By Ariel C. Emberton, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — “Travel the world. Use your language. Wear comfortable shoes,” Dr. H. Keith Spears, vice president for communication and assistant to the president, told those students graduating from Campbellsville University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Completion Ceremony recently.
Spears presented the students with a challenge to travel the world and use their new language. He said, “If you are far away and find someone who has been near your home, it is remarkable.”
Maryann Matheny, ESL endorsement specialist and instructor in ESLO and TESL, gave the opening remarks for the program and spoke about how she was going to miss her students. Matheny retired this summer, but she encouraged her students to keep in contact with her and even told them she would still come for lunch occasionally.
Spears, when talking about Matheny in his closing remarks, described her as “loyal, trustworthy, helpful, friendly and huggable.” Matheny was recognized for her hard work and dedication to the ESL program over the last seven years and was presented with a CU polo.
Matheny was also described as having an “adventurous soul” by Dr. Mego Haralu, dean of international education and assistant professor of theology, and was presented a bouquet of flowers by Haralu and Raquel Cunha, secretary for ESL.
During the program, there were several awards given out to recognize certain individuals with specific accomplishments. Joshua Detherage, instructor in ESL, presented the most Outstanding Student Award to Yaqin Tang of China. In order to receive this award, a student must exhibit academic achievement, community collectiveness and cultural awareness.
Christina French, a senior of Pensacola, Fla. and president of the International Student Association, presented the most Outstanding Center of International Education (CIE)/ESL Staff and Faculty award’s. French said the recipients of this award exhibited little acts of love toward the students which all add up.
The recipient of the staff award was Pam Tennant, student center coordinator. The students wrote anonymous notes about Tennant talking about how much she impacted them and how she was always there for them.
The faculty member who received this award was Dr. Shawn Williams, associate professor of political science. French said the ESL students talked about how Williams’ door is always open when they needed someone to talk to.
The first group to be recognized were those who obtained their Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL). The individuals were hooded by Detherage and Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs. The recipients are as follows:
Mi Hyun “Kay” Bell of South Korea; David Johnson of Campbellsville, Ky.; and Elisha Lawrence of Campbellsville, Ky.
Following the hooding portion of the ceremony, Detherage, along with Tim Hooker, director and instructor of ESL, presented each ESL student with a certificate. The students who received their ESL certification are as follows:
Amarbold Avaadorj of Mongolia; Nuonhannah Chen of China; Tiange Chen of China; Yulong Chen of China; Bora Jin of South Korea; Nao Kitakawa of Japan; Tong Mao of China; Akari Matsumoto of Japan;
Akane Miyake of Japan; Sarangerel Purevdorj of Mongolia; Yuan Qiao of Japan; Yaqin Tang of China; Ziqi Wang of China; Kun Wei of China; Tamano Yamanaka of Japan; and Yanrun Zhao of China.
Haralu closed the ceremony with prayer and a thank you to the staff and faculty.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 10,000 students offering over 90 programs of study including 20 master’s degrees, six postgraduate areas and seven pre-professional programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset and Hodgenville with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro, Summersville and Liberty, all in Kentucky, and one in Costa Mesa and the Silicon Valley in California, and a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.