Marisol Tapia Cultural Scholarship

Marisol Tapia, wife, teacher, mentor, friend and colleague passed away in January 2022. This is a solicitation for a scholarship award in Marisol's name, the recipients of whom have demonstrated a desire to pursue advanced studies in foreign languages, teaching, and/or a foreign exchange program. The pool of students available for this scholarship are currently limited to Juniors and Seniors and graduates of Soldotna High School in Soldotna Alaska where Marisol Tapia taught for 20 years. Marisol Tapia was born in Spain in 1952. She was fluent in Spanish, French, and English when she moved to the United States in the early 1980s. Marisol began teaching at Soldotna High School in 1989, where she developed a strong Spanish program. She remained at Soldotna High School until her retirement in 2010. During that time she also taught at Kenai Peninsula College. She sponsored many clubs and events including Amnesty International, Latin and Tango Dancing and was a fierce advocate for LGBTQ rights with her Gay Straight Alliance Group. Her love of travel was evident in her sponsorship of several student trips including Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Morocco. Marisol was a breast cancer survivor and supported all cancer programs. This scholarship is in recognition of her contributions to education in languages, culture, travel, and the acceptance & tolerance of all.