12th in a series of stories highlighting the academic, community and personal achievements of University of Toledo student-athletes.

By Chris Cullum, Associate Athletic Communications Director


One of the most memorable experiences one can have is international travel. Getting on a plane and visiting a foreign country, experiencing a different culture, seeing different parts of the world. It can be a magical, transformative experience.
 
Just ask Yaniah Curry.
 
Curry, a redshirt freshman on the women's basketball team, is majoring in Spanish and minoring in business. She took her first Spanish class in eighth grade and continued taking them throughout high school. While she enjoyed studying the language, it wasn't until she visited Peru in the summer after her junior year that Curry realized her enjoyment had blossomed into a passion for the language.
 
"I enjoyed Spanish before I went on that trip," Curry said. "But once I was there I was able to experience their culture and communicate with so many more people than if I didn't know the language. I love that idea, being able to communicate with people I wouldn't have been able to before."
 

During her trip to Peru, Curry and the rest of her classmates helped local Quechuan women build worksites to aid them in producing goods. For Curry, it was an opportunity not just to learn Spanish by sitting in a classroom, but to interact face-to-face with native Spanish speakers. She even managed to form a bond with a young girl while she was there, who proved to be the perfect conversation partner.
 
"I would run around with her, play tag and other games like that," Curry said. "She was fun to talk to because at that point my Spanish level was pretty close to hers, so we hit it off.
 
"You don't really know how much you know until you're in a place where there's no other choice but to speak their language."
 
Curry continued to study Spanish in the classroom and star for the Francis Howell Central High School women's basketball team on the court, where she averaged 12.7 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game as a senior. When she was making her college decision, the former Conference and District Player of the Year and All-State performer opted to come to the Glass City after seeing all that the University of Toledo and its women's basketball program had to offer.
 
"When I was being recruited I saw how much the coaching staff cared about their players, and the players I met were all really nice." Curry said. "Coach Cullop really emphasizes that we're here for more than just basketball, which I feel like you don't get at a lot of other schools."
 
Curry appeared in 20 games this past season for the Rockets after missing the entire 2019-20 season working her way back from a devastating leg injury, tearing her Achilles tendon in her final high school basketball game. She did not let her injury rehab and basketball responsibilities get in the way of her academics, though.
 
Curry has earned the team's Academic Award twice and Academic All-MAC honors once. She has represented her team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) each of the past two seasons and has made the Dean's List in all four of her semesters at UToledo as well.
 
"You don't have to be in the presence of Yaniah long to realize what an impressive person she is," head women's basketball coach Tricia Cullop said. "Not only is she very bright, but she's also very driven to succeed in everything that she does. She has an incredible work ethic, positive attitude and is a joy to coach. I have no doubt she will be successful long after graduation."
 
While she still has a few more semesters before she is set to graduate, Curry has definitely thought about the next chapter in her life and where her love for Spanish can take her.
 
"Majoring in Spanish was more of a passion move for me," Curry said. "My goal was to be fluent, not necessarily just because I thought it would get me a job. I figured that if I could become fluent it would open me up to different opportunities."
 
Also, because she knows people are going to ask: yes, she would consider herself fluent.
 
"Everyone always asks that," Curry said. "If you dropped me in a random Spanish-speaking country I would be okay. But every place has their different dialects and slang, so you're always learning something new."
 
 
Previous Stories
Feb. 24 - Tycen Anderson Draws Inspiration From His Grandmother
March 3 - Thailand Native Thawin Suksathaporn has found a home in Toledo
March 10 -  Freshmen Women's Tennis Players Take Aim at Medical School
March 17 - Lexa Bauer's Passion for Justice Leads Her Toward a Law Career
March 24 - Alexia Moehling on Track to Career as a Dentist
March 31 - Lauren Wegener Takes the Fast Lane
April 8 - Jacob Harris is on Track to Becoming a Coach
April 15 - Lavel Dumont Builds a Unique Friendship Out of Shared Love of Football
April 21 - Botha Brothers Find a Home Far From Home
April 23 - Liz & Meg Beasley Follow Family Footsteps into Nursing
May 5 - AJ Edu's Love for Basketball and Business Pays Off