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Abel Vialpando named to Who’s Who Honor Roll
 For
the second straight year, Abel Vialpando, a 36-year faculty member at Otero
Junior College, has been named to the National Academic Affairs Who’s Who Among
America’s Teachers’ Honor Roll. The Who’s Who award is an honor that only 5
percent of teachers are awarded with each year. Not only is this Vialpando’s
second year to be named to the coveted list, he was nominated twice for this
year’s honor by students in his Spanish and English classes. Vialpando teaches
English, Spanish I, II, III, IV, and special topics in language.
Vialpando is one of over a dozen OJC faculty members who got their start at
Otero Junior College by earning an associate’s degree before completing higher
level degrees. Vialpando received his associate’s degree at OJC in 1968, a
bachelor’s degree from Southern Colorado State College (CSU-Pueblo) in 1970 in
French and Spanish, and a master’s degree from Interamerican University in 1971
in Spanish and Literature. He hopes to complete a doctoral degree in languages
in the future.
Vialpando’s passion for language is evident in his never-ending quest to study
new languages and develop new learning opportunities for students. In addition
to being highly proficient in English and Spanish, Vialpando is also fluent in
French. He taught French at OJC for eight years until the class was discontinued
in 1988. He has also dabbled in Hebrew, Polish, and Italian. He is currently
learning Russian, Japanese, and German, all with the help of international
students and faculty on campus at OJC.
“I would like to see the development of a foreign language department at OJC.
The world is becoming a smaller place, and I think it is critical that American
students learn more languages,” he said.
Over his 36-year tenure at OJC, Vialpando finds his motivation for teaching by
watching his students gain basic skills, confidence, and self reliance. “I try
to be a role model for my students. By showing them that I am continually
learning and trying to improve myself and my knowledge, I hope they will try to
do the same in their lives.”
Lindy Doddridge, one of the students who nominated Vialpando for the Who’s Who
honor, stated that Vialpando’s caring attitude toward students helps students
learn. “He makes you feel good about yourself and confident that you can learn,”
said Doddridge. “His door is always open and you can relate to him as a person,
rather than just an instructor.”
Vialpando and his wife Flora have five grown children. In his free time he
enjoys playing the guitar at every opportunity, reading, attending OJC sports
events, studying foreign languages, and spending quality time with his family.
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