Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Professor Creates
“Si Se Puede” Teaching Scholarship for Students from Laredo

Dr. JoAnn Canales, a professor of Education at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has established the “Si` Se Puede” (Yes, It Can Be Done) teaching scholarship for Laredo residents interested in attending the University to pursue a career in teaching.

“When I received the University’s ‘Excellence in Teaching’ award I felt much honored and at the same time very humbled,” said Canales. “This scholarship is my way of thanking the many wonderful people who have enriched my life, from my parents, who gave me the confidence and encouragement to explore opportunities and pursue my education, to my mentors and wonderful students.”

Canales, a 1970 graduate of J. W. Nixon High School, created the scholarship to honor her father, the late A.C. Canales, and her mother Ende Canales who still resides in Laredo. The $1,000 “Si` Se Puede” scholarship will be awarded annually to assist a deserving student with tuition and book expenses. To qualify, the student must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
 “So many youth today do not have the financial means, a mentor to guide them or the knowledge of how to access a college education, so they feel it is unattainable,” Canales explained. “In reality, all it takes is the realization that ‘Si` Se Puede,’ yes it can be done.”

After graduating from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology, Canales earned her master’s in bilingual education with a minor in Spanish from Laredo State University. In 1985, she received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Bilingual Education from the University of Texas.