Crush Díaz, 2025-2026 AY FLAS Recipient

February 27, 2026

Crush Díaz, 2025-2026 AY FLAS Recipient

Meet AY FLAS awardee, Crush Díaz. Crush is a first year Master of Arts student in Latin American Studies (MALAS), studying beginning Quechua. Crush is studying Quechua “because my great-grandparents were the last in my family to speak the language and they were forced to assimilate to Spanish to prevent discrimination. I am the first in my family in the last generation learning Quechua, and I want to bring back our native language to my family. I am hoping to further connect with my ancestor and better understand our culture in Perú. Language above all connects us, and I am grateful to UNM for allowing us to learn Quechua among other indigenous languages.”