By Ariel C. Emberton, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “Once you learn a language you become brothers and sisters,” Dr. H. Keith Spears, vice president for communication and assistant to the president, said.
Campbellsville University held her annual English as a Second Language competition ceremony May 1 in The Gheens Recital Hall.
Raquel Cunha, director of the English as a Second Language Institute, welcomed everyone to the event. Cunha came from Brazil to the United States in 2007 knowing no English. She began to learn English and said “with help, I was able to improve.” She thanked the students for choosing Campbellsville University and said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Embrace your new journey.”
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs, expressed how much respect she has for the students and said, “Hopefully you’ll carry what you learned to another level.”
During the ceremony, the International Student Association (ISA) presented two awards to an outstanding faculty and outstanding staff member. The faculty award was received by Joshua Detherage, instructor in English as a Second Language and Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (MATESOL).
Samuel Haralu, president of ISA, said, “His [Detherage’s] class is entertaining and easy to understand. No one gets bored.”
Mi Hyun “Kay” Bell, international student advisor, received the outstanding staff award. Haralu said, “What sets her apart is the embodiment of love.”
An outstanding ESL student award is also given to the student who exhibits academic achievement, community collectiveness and cultural awareness. This year’s recipient was Tuguldur Battulga of Mongolia.
Hooding of the Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language graduates was conducted by Hedgepath and Eduardo Trindade, director of Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (MATESOL) and assistant professor of MATESOL.
Students who completed their Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language were Bo Yong Kim of Elizabethtown, Ky. and Amma Michelle Asiedu of Holland, Ohio.
The students who received their ESL certificated are as follows:
Ingrid Alves de Oliveira of Brazil; Alejandro Ayala Perrogon of Bolivia; Yodai Azegami of Japan; Lorrany Gomes de Barros of Brazil; Nanami Nakatani of Japan; Musoh Saga of Japan;
Xiaochen Wang of China; Yucen Yi of China; Yingsha Zhu of China; Tuguldur Battulga of Mongolia and Kirari Sato of Japan.
For photos of the ceremony visit https://bit.ly/2Vo6hWW.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 12,000 students offering over 100 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the status of Campbellsville University.