Aug. 1, 2016
For Immediate Release
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| Students graduating from English as Second Language program at Campbellsville University include from left: Haoran Bo of Beijing, China; Francisco Jose Delgado Azuaje of Caracas, Venezuela; Sifan Teng of Fujian, China; Kota Shimizu of Hiroshima, Japan; Yudai Yamauchi of Okinawa, Japan and John Kang of Busan, South Korea. (Campbellsville University photo by Joshua Williams) |
By Joshua Williams, communications assistant
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Twenty international students participated in Campbellsville University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program over the summer, with six students graduating and 14 students from Beijing Information Management Schools (BIMS) in China participating in the ESL summer term for cross-cultural education.
“I visited China two years ago, at the BIMS facility. I have a special place in my heart for your country,” Dr. Donna Hedgepath, vice president for academic affairs and professor of education, said.
She shared her experience while she was in China and told the different perspective students have.
“When I look at American students, not everyone is excited to leave and go to study in another country as much as you. You are eager to come here and study,” she said.
Dr. Mego Haralu, director of international education at CU, congratulated the graduates and shared his first experience living cross-culturally.
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| Students from Beijing Information Management Schools (BIMS), China, receiving their ESL participation certificate at Campbellsville University. (Campbellsville University photo by Joshua Williams) |
“I was in your shoes many years ago,” he said. “Your wiliness to cross the border, to interact with another culture and to even learn their language is commendable. That is the beauty of cross-culture education.” Haralu said.
Joshua Detherage, adjunct instructor in ESL, presented the Outstanding ESL Student Award to John Kang of South Korea.
“This award is given to the graduating student who best exemplifies the following criteria: academic achievement, cultural awareness, positive class involvement and community connectedness,” Detherage said.
Tim Hooker, director of ESL, presented the Summer Program Activities Coordinator Award to Alayna Clifton of Tomball, Texas.
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| Alayna Clifton of Tomball, Texas, second from left, receives the Summer Program Activities Coordinator Award by, from left: Timothy Hooker, ESL program director and instructor in ESL and Andrea Giordano, executive director for ESL, TESL, MATESOL and instructor for ESL, TESL and MATESOL. (Campbellsville University photo by Joshua Williams) |
“She has been active with international activities and did an exceptional job leading incoming international students,” he said.
A special ESL Summer Chaperone Award was awarded to Chunlai Wany of China.
“Wany did an outstanding job as a chaperone. She is always eager to help students and help them understand our policies,” Hooker said.
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| Chunlai Wany of China, second from left, receives the ESL Summer Chaperone Award from, from left: Timothy Hooker, ESL program director and instructor in ESL and Andrea Giordano, executive director for ESL, TESL, MATESOL and instructor for ESL, TESL and MATESOL.(Campbellsville University photo by Joshua Williams) |
Hooker wished the gradates all the best and hoped to meet them again in the future.
Hooker and Andrea Giordano, executive director for ESL, TESL, MATESOL, and instructor, passed out the completion certificates.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/campbellsvilleedu/albums/72157671026355172
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.