Department of Foreign Languages Honors Exceptional Students for Homecoming 2019
Chair & CHSS Dean Present Six Awards to Undergraduates and Alum
KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct 16, 2019) — On Saturday, October 12, as part fo the 2019 Homecoming celebrations, Department of Foreing Languages Chair Olaf Berwald and CHSS Dean Shawn Long honored five undergraduates and an alum for their exceptional accomplishments.
Carlie Bostek (MLC Chinese, Chemistry Minor) is a recipient of the Richard Grenvicz and Glenn Hollingsworth Jr. Memorial scholarship, and has demonstrated her passion for Chinese language and culture by being a diligent learner and an academic role model to her peers. In addition, she actively participates in Chinese cultural events and activities. After being involved in several overseas cross-cultural outreach and humanitarian projects, including six months in the Middle East volunteering in various medical settings for the Bedouin and other refugee groups, she participated in a study abroad program to China this summer.
Kwamé Akuffo (Computer Engineering and MLC French) is originally from Ghana, and has always been passionate about the French language and Francophone cultures. This avid enthusiasm for the language led him become involved in the French and Sowers of Knowledge clubs in his freshman year. He currently serves as President of both clubs and works tirelessly to exhort officers and club members to strive for excellence as they promote and conduct club events. Kwame is a double major in French and Computer Engineering. He excels in academics and is also involved in a number of extracurricular activities such as the Computer Engineering Apprentice Club, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the African Student Association.
Sam Baker (MLC German) was selected as 2019 AATG College Student of the year, completed both a grant-funded and salaried year-long study/work abroad at U of Paderborn, Germany (2017-18), and a grant-funded summer 2019 internship in Berlin in her Minor field Marketing. She serves as Social Media Coordinator for German Studies where she has managed the Instagram, WhatsApp, and GroupMe sites successfully augmenting memberships and hits. Sam has been an active member in the KSU German Club (President, Co-President 2018-19, officer 2016-17) and was inducted into the Collegiate German Honor Society in fall 2018. She will graduate at the age of 21 with a BA in MLC in German in fall 2019 after only three years at KSU (started in fall 2016).
Andrew Hill (Biology and MLC Italian) is a driven and very successful student, and his passion for languages and intercultural competence is shown by his many accomplishments in and outside the classroom. Andrew is a Presidents Emerging Global Scholar and Honors College (PEGS) student. In April 2019, at the NCUR he gave a poster presentation on the impact of studying foreign languages for KSU students. Through the PEGS program, Andrew volunteered at an orphanage in Costa Rica and at Kim Onlus in Italy. He has also participated in study abroad programs in Italy (Gargnano) and Germany, and serves as an officer for the Italian Club. After college, Andrew wants to attend medical school and hopes he will be able to apply his foreign language skills when speaking with patients with diverse cultural backgrounds.
Kaelyn Ireland (Pscyhology and MLC Spanish) has devoted time and effort in theirMLC major to specialize in both Iberian and Latin American cultures by participating in two study abroad programs: in 2018 they traveled to La Coruña, Spain and this year they traveled to Peru to complete a minor in Latin American Studies. Among their future career plans is to become a university professor. They are well on their way, as they have already presented at several conferences on topics related to gender studies, including two presentations at NCUR 2018 (where they were also part of the student organizing committee).
James Goodwin (Class of 2015, MLC German) moved on to get his MBA at GA Tech and has worked in HR internationally due to his BA in MLC German since he completed an internship with ADP in Germany as part of his degree requirement. He since left ADP and has been most recently hired by Coca-Cola in international payroll. He has been keeping in touch with us faculty over the years and occasionally attends departmental events.
