Alicia Salazar Contreras, who is graduating with dual degrees in speech, language, and hearing sciences and Spanish, is one of two recipients of the University of Arizona’s Robert Logan Nugent Award.
The Nugent Award goes to students who display a record of accomplishments that exemplifies the high ideals of Robert Logan Nugent, a former U of A executive vice president, which include active, enthusiastic participation in campus life, and dedicated service to the university and community.
A first-generation Hispanic student born and raised in Tucson, Salazar Contreras has witnessed firsthand the gaps in resources available to Spanish-speaking communities, particularly for individuals in need of speech and language services. These experiences inspired her commitment to advocating for her community and working to expand research and clinical representation for Spanish-speaking populations in the United States.
During her time as an undergraduate, Salazar Contreras participated in research as both a McNair and FUERZA Scholar. Through this work, she helped develop Sopa de Pescado, a Spanish-language diagnostic passage designed to support the differential diagnosis of motor speech disorders. Created with Spanish speakers in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands in mind, the passage aims to encourage more culturally and linguistically responsive clinical practices.
Beyond research, Salazar Contreras has demonstrated a strong commitment to service. She served as an interpreting lead team member for ARSOBO, a humanitarian aid organization based in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, that provides free monthly audiological services to individuals in need. She also completed a year-long internship with the Tucson Unified School District, where she assisted a bilingual speech-language pathologist in providing services for bilingual children throughout the Tucson area.
After graduation, Salazar Contreras plans to pursue a master's degree in speech-language pathology and become a clinically certified bilingual speech-language pathologist. Her goal is to support and advocate for underserved Spanish-English bilingual communities in Tucson by providing culturally responsive speech and language services.
Additionally, two students with minors in the College of Humanities will receive university-wide awards:
- Lane Vazquez Luna, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and a minor in classics, is the other recipient of the Nugent Award. A Hispanic first-generation college student from El Mirage, Arizona, Vazquez Luna found a home in Tucson, where he developed a deep commitment to service, inclusion, and mentorship at the U of A.
- Gabriel Trinidad, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in physiology and medical sciences and minors in Spanish and biochemistry, is being awarded the Robie Gold Medal, which honor Wendell T. Robie, Class of 1917, and Inez Benzie Robie, Class of 1916, and recognize two students who exemplify personal integrity, initiative and a breadth of interests. Born and raised in Tucson, Trinidad is a first-generation college student from the city's west side whose experiences have shaped his commitment to health equity and service.