In 1963 and 1964, two groups of Cuban refugees were brought to Terre Haute, Indiana to be trained as Spanish language teachers in Indiana schools. These refugees were doctors, lawyers, professors and politicians, who were escaping the Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro.

To aid these refugees locally, Indiana State University initiated a special program with several partners, to educate and support these groups to become Spanish teachers.

With the educational backing, the groups began to branch out throughout Indiana and other Midwestern states and taught Spanish. There was an increased need due to the state mandate that by 1965 all high school students in Indiana were required to have taken two years of foreign language. With so few foreign language teachers, the refugees provided a tremendous service to the state and to the nation.

This presentation by Dr. Crystal Reynolds, is a celebration of the 60th anniversary of their accomplishments and ISU’s partnership.