Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Scholarship Award Winner Jillian Cash

Congratulations to Jillian Cash, a sophomore International Business major and Spanish minor, who has been awarded a Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Scholarship by the RI Foundation toward her semester abroad this fall in Salamanca, Spain.

Jill (front row, center) at the book making even she recently organized

Jill is an active member of our Spanish program at Bryant.

In fall 2018, Jillian competed in the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition with a Spanish-language Sales Pitch. Of this experience, Jillian writes: “This competition was in personal selling, and I explained to employers why they should hire me in Spanish. Competing with students across the country, it gave me a great opportunity to network and build confidence in the Spanish language.”

In January, Jillian traveled with Bryant University faculty on a 10-day trip to Argentina and Chile where she visited local businesses as well as cultural sights, using her language skills. Inspired by her visit to the Hogar el Alba orphanage during her trip, Jill recently organized a storybook making event for her fellow classmates, with all books created donated to the orphanage.

In spring semester 2019, Jillian has chosen to contract her advanced level Spanish course, SP404 Spanish for Business, for Honors Program credits. As part of this contract, and in addition to the course’s normal assignments, Jillian will create a multimedia project showcasing specific companies of the Spanish-speaking world, their business structure, and their participation in the global economy. She will also research leadership qualities and create a video-curriculum about herself that she can share with future employers. All aspects of this project will be completed in Spanish.

As an International Business major /Spanish minor Jillian will participate in one of the customized study abroad programs offered jointly by Academic Programs International (API) and Bryant University. These programs combine traditional study abroad coursework and homestays, with a 3-week course taught by a Bryant faculty member plus a semester-long internship (in Spanish) in a small local business for academic credit. Jillian will study in Salamanca, Spain and we wish her all the best!