July 8, 2016
For Immediate Release
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| Students graduating from English as Second Language program at Campbellsville University include from left: Front row – Ayaka Kobayashi of Japan, Feng Zhang of China, Miyu Ikeoka of Japan, Yicheng Ma of China, Yaning Liu of China, Lan Cui of China, Hanxi Zhao of China and Yuwen Wang of China. Back row – Yuanyu Jin of China, Shuhei Morita of Japan, Eduardo Hoepfner Maciel of Brazil, Weigeng Xu of China, Jesus Valdiviezo Di Gregorio of Venezuela, Guangi Zhao of China, Yuki Takeda of Japan, Meven Anglade of France, Hironori Yamada of Japan, Jhonbert Gonzalez of Venezuela, Shosuke Mori of Japan, Romain Chemitelin of France, Ryoma Inoue of Japan, Cannelle Acheron of France, Naoki Nakadate of Japan, Kathleen Raberson of Madagascar, Wenyue Gong of China, and Nien-Yu Chuang of Taiwan. (Campbellsville University Photo by Tomomi Sato) |
By Jordan Snider, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Twenty-six students celebrated the celebration of their English as a Second Language (ESL) completion at Campbellsville University at a ceremony recently in Gosser Fine Arts Center.
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, vice president for academic affairs, shared her experience learning another language. “I took years of French but can’t carry on a conversation; however, with music we don’t have to speak the same language. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, ‘Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.’”
Dr. Mego Haralu, director of international education at Campbellsville University, who is from India, said, “I went through the struggles of coming to a new country and learning English 31 years ago. I came out a stronger person, and I hope you have too. You have learned to adapt, and I hope you continue to adapt after you graduate here.”
After reading “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, Haralu said, “I know you took the road less traveled and continue to do so.”
Dr. Keith Spears, vice president for communication and assistant to the president, presented the Doxology Award to Dr. Shirley Meece, faculty emeritus at Campbellsville University in English. She taught full time from 1967 until 1991 and has taught as an adjunct for numerous year.
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Dr. Shirley Meece, third from left, faculty emeritus, receives the Doxology Award from, from left: Dr. Keith Spears, vice president for communication and assistant to the president; Dr. Donna Hedgepath, vice president for academic affairs and professor of education; Andrea Giordano, executive director for ESL, TESL, MATESOL and instructor for ESL, TESL and MATESOL; Timothy Hooker, ESL program director and instructor in ESL and Dr. Mego Haralu, director of international education, during the ESL completion ceremony at Campbellsville University. (Campbellsville University Photo by Tomomi Sato) |
Spears said, “This award goes to a colleague who has worked long hours to make sure our international students benefit here. Her life reflects the verses of Doxology.”
Jason Schaum, adjunct instructor in ESL, presented the Outstanding ESL Student Award to Cannelle Acheron of France. “We honor a student who has a cheerful demeanor, has exceled out of the classroom and exhibits great attitude toward others,” he said.
Tim Hooker, director of ESL, and Andrea Giordano, executive director for ESL, TESL, MATESOL, and instructor of ESL, TESL and MATESOL, passed out the completion certificates.
Haralu presented the students with a pin that has the students’ home country’s flag on it.
Spears closed by saying, “You carry a common bond of a language. Take this place with you wherever you go and understand we are still your sisters and brothers.”
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering over 80 programs of study including 24 master’s degrees, seven postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.