This page uses javascript to help render elements, if you have problems please enable javascript.
 
Skip to main content
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You are now inside the main content area
 
 

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Scholarships

 

THE ARANA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Amount: $4,500 (two scholarships of $2,250 each)

Established by: The family of CSUF Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages & Literatures Dr. Oswaldo (Ozzie) Arana, in memoriam

Open to: Undergraduates at CSUF majoring in Spanish

Criteria: Open to undergraduate students at CSUF who meet the following criteria:

•Declared major in Spanish within the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures.

•Demonstrated financial need.

•Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.

•Must be enrolled in classes during the 2025-2026 Academic Year.

Special consideration will be given to:

•First-generation college students.

•Freshmen or sophomores majoring in Spanish.

•Senior undergraduate students planning to pursue a graduate degree in Spanish at CSUF.

•Commitment to advancing their studies in Spanish language and literature.

Application Procedure:

1) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3) Write a short essay (250–500 words) in English addressing the following:

• Your academic and career goals related to Spanish language and literature.

• How being a first-generation college student has shaped your journey (if applicable).

• The financial challenges you face and how this scholarship will support your education.

• If you are a senior, describe your plans to pursue a graduate degree in Spanish.

4) No letters of recommendation are required.

Application Deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm

NANCY TERRY BADEN TESOL SCHOLARSHIP

Amount: $1,000

Established by: Professor Emeritus Nancy “Terry” Baden, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, to promote effective preparation of teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for K–12, Adult, intensive English program, community college, and university settings in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Baden was former Chair of the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures. She was a beloved professor with a deep understanding of human nature and a strong motivation for humanitarian service. Over her more than 34 years of teaching, Dr. Baden lovingly instructed students in Spanish, Portuguese, and TESOL and had a broad appreciation for cultures of the world. She was also instrumental in the planning and development of the Foreign Language Education Program (FLED), the American Language Program (ALP), the Postbaccalaureate TESOL Certificate Program, and the M.S. TESOL Program on the CSU Fullerton campus.

Open to: Graduate students enrolled in the Cal State Fullerton M.S. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Program

Criteria: 3.2 GPA or higher in the M.S. in TESOL Program

Instructions: 1.) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2.) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3.) An additional essay is required for this scholarship as part of your online application. Please respond to the following prompt: In a statement of no more than 300 words, please explain why you qualify for the Nancy “Terry” Baden TESOL Scholarship based on the description above, and how the scholarship would help you achieve your academic and professional goals. 4.) No recommendation letter is required.

Application deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm

THE LINDA R. ANDERSON SCHOLARSHIP IN MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

Amount: $1,500

Established by: The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures (MLL), CSUF. Funds for this scholarship were provided by Dr. Linda R. Andersen, Professor Emerita of French.

Open to: Undergraduate and graduate students at Cal State Fullerton enrolled in a major, minor, graduate, or certificate program within the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures

Criteria: Applicants must have declared a major, minor, or certificate program within the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures as a degree objective, and have successfully completed at least one upper-division course in the program. Special consideration given to individual(s) meeting the following criteria: Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrated financial need.

Application Procedure: 1.) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2.) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3.) Submit an additional essay as part of your online application. Please respond to the following prompt: In a statement of no more than 300–500 words, please explain why you qualify for the Linda R. Andersen Scholarship in Modern Languages and Literatures based on the criteria listed above, and how the scholarship would help you achieve your academic goals. 4.) No letters of recommendation are required.

Application Deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm

THE LYDIA VÉLEZ STUDENT OF PERSEVERANCE AWARD

Amount: $500

Established by: The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures (MLL), CSUF. Funds for this scholarship were provided by the Titan Shops Requisition Rewards Program.

Open to: Undergraduate and graduate students at Cal State Fullerton enrolled in a major, minor, graduate, or certificate program within the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures

Criteria: Applicants must have 1) declared a major, minor, graduate, or certificate program in MLL at the time of application (i.e., major in French, Japanese, or Spanish; minor in Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, or Vietnamese; TESOL Undergraduate Certificate, Spanish for Hispanic Media Certificate, or Certificate in Translation: Spanish to English/English to Spanish; or M.S. in TESOL, Postbaccalaureate Certificate in TESOL, or M.A. in Spanish), 2) successfully completed at least one upper-division course in the program, and 3) provide a compelling narrative of how they have persevered through adverse circumstances to get to where they are today.

Instructions: 1.) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2.) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3.) Submit an additional statement/essay as part of your online application. Please respond to the following prompt: In a statement/essay of no more than 300–500 words, please explain why you qualify for the Lydia Vélez Student of Perseverance Award. The statement/essay should include a description of the challenge(s) the student has faced and the steps she/he/they has taken to overcome the challenge(s). The student should also explain how she/he/they has used the challenge(s) to improve her/his/their own life and how her/his/their experience(s) can inspire others. 4.) No letters of recommendation are required.

Application deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm

THE TESOL FOREIGN STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

Amount: $1,000

Established by: The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures (MLL), CSUF. Funds for this scholarship were provided by Juan Carlos Gallego and Elizabeth Borkowski. Juan Carlos Gallego is a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages and Literatures at CSUF.

Open to: Graduate students enrolled in the second or third semester in Cal State Fullerton’s Master of Science in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Program, with preference towards graduate students on an F1 Visa

Criteria: Applicants must be graduate students in their second or third semester in Cal State Fullerton’s Master of Science in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Program, with preference towards graduate students on an F1 Visa.

Application Procedure: 1.) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2.) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3.) Submit an additional essay as part of your online application. Please respond to the following prompt: In a statement of no more than 300–500 words, please explain why you qualify for the TESOL Foreign Student Scholarship based on the criteria listed above, and how the scholarship would help you achieve your academic goals. 4.) No letters of recommendation are required.

Application Deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm

THE MARJORIE O. TUSSING TESOL SCHOLARSHIP

Amount: $2,500

Established by: Marjorie O. Tussing, Professor Emerita of Modern Languages and Literatures

Open to: Students currently enrolled in the M.S. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TESOL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Criteria: 3.2 GPA or higher; good academic standing; demonstrated financial need. Preference may be given to students who would otherwise not be able to complete the program due to financial hardship.

Application Procedure: 1.) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2.) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3.) Two additional essays are required for this scholarship as part of your online application. Please respond to the following prompts: (a) In a statement of no more than 300 words, please explain why you qualify for the Marjorie O. Tussing TESOL Scholarship based on the description above, and how the scholarship would help you achieve your academic and professional goals. (b) In 400-500 words, please explain what having this support means to your education and how you plan to use the scholarship. 4.) No recommendation letter is required.

Application Deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm

THE ROBERTA KING MAXWELL SCHOLARSHIP

Amount: $1,000

Established by: Dr. J. William Maxwell

Open to: Fullerton College graduates in the Foreign Languages Department who are majoring in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Cal State Fullerton

Criteria: Applicants must be undergraduate students with a major (French, Japanese, or Spanish) in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, who transferred from Fullerton College.

Application Procedure: 1.) Please log into your CSUF Portal and type in “Scholarships” in the search bar. 2.) Click on the “Student Application.” Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the online application. 3.) Submit an additional essay as part of your online application. Please respond to the following prompt: In a statement of no more than 300–500 words, please explain why you qualify for the Roberta King Maxwell Scholarship. Include a statement regarding your Fullerton College major and/or coursework in the Foreign Languages Department, and state what your Cal State Fullerton major is as well. 4.) No letters of recommendation are required.

Application Deadline: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm