Foreign languages and literatures awards announced
July 21, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Sixty-eight Western Michigan University students (listed below) were honored for achievements this spring by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. The department awarded scholarships totaling more than $46,000 at its year-end celebration, which was held to recognize the achievements of outstanding students in the department.
Jason Albaugh of Middleville, Mich., a senior majoring in biology, received the Victor Coutant Award in Classics, an award given to an outstanding student studying Latin or Greek.
Sabina Balos of Kalamazoo, a junior majoring in politics, received the Excellence in Russian Award, an award given to a student for exemplary academic achievement in the study of Russian language.
Amanda Bellino of Geneva, Ind., a senior majoring in Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Ms. Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Melissa Bottke of Wixom, Mich., a senior majoring in marketing, received the Premio Alfonso X el Sabio Award, an award given to a student who demonstrates overall excellence in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Amanda Boyce of Livonia, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Ellen Brinks of Gobles, Mich., a junior majoring in aviation, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award, Brinks was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average, and a 3.5 GPA in her major.
Liza Brockway of Kalamazoo, a sophomore majoring in Spanish, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad Award, given to a foreign language major to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award, Brockway was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average and a 3.5 GPA in her major.
Michael Bryant of Mattawan, Mich., a senior majoring in German, received the Preis der Bundesrepublik Award, an award given to a student who exhibits outstanding work in the study of German.
Lisa Bungert of Brighton, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish, received the $2,500 President's Award for Study Abroad, an award given for study at a foreign university or in a study abroad program sponsored by an American university, for a minimum of one semester.
Lindsey Cherry of Saginaw, Mich., a senior majoring in English, received the $1,500 Lori Beth Pattison Scholarship for Literature in Spanish, an award named in honor of a WMU alumna and professor of Spanish who died of cancer in 1999.
Steven Collings of Holland, Mich., a senior majoring in finance, received the$1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award was made possible through a donation from the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Darren Cooper of Lapeer, Mich., a senior majoring in
Spanish, received the $650 Foreign Languages and Literatures
Department Travel/Study
Abroad Award to pursue his studies in Spanish.
Allison Danforth of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in Spanish, was chosen as the Western Michigan University Presidential Scholar in Foreign Languages and Literatures, a University distinction awarded to students who demonstrate the most outstanding classroom performance. Danforth was also received the $700 Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship in Spanish, an award given to a foreign language major who demonstrates outstanding academic performance and potential.
Greg Delgoffe of Menominee, Mich., a junior majoring in biological sciences, received the Excellence in Russian Award, an award given to a student for exemplary academic achievement in Russian language.
Thomas Devereaux of Swartz Creek, Mich., a junior majoring in politics, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major or minor to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award, Devereaux was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average, and a 3.5 GPA in his German minor.
Harue Dozono of Kalamazoo, a freshman majoring in music, received an Excellence in Italian Award, an award given to a student in recognition of academic achievement in Italian.
Nicholas Fechter of Saginaw, Mich., a junior majoring in German, received the Exchange Program Scholarship to the Free University of Berlin to pursue his studies of German language and literature.
Lesley Frakes of Holt, Mich., a senior majoring in psychology, received the Premio María Moliner Award, an award given to a student for excellence in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Rebekah Friesen of Troy, Mich., a junior majoring in Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Danielle Gordon of Sterling, Mich., a senior majoring in journalism, received the $650 Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Travel/Study Abroad Award to pursue her studies in French.
Courtney Grimes of Zeeland, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish, received the Premio Jorge Luis Borges Award, an award given to a student who demonstrates overall excellence in the study of the Spanish language.
Megan Haas of Farmington Hills, Mich., a senior majoring in English, was awarded the Premio Antonio de Nebrija Award, an award given to a student who has demonstrated overall excellence in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Arthur Hale of Comstock Park, Mich., a senior majoring in English, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, given to a foreign language major to study abroad for at least one semester. Hale also received the Frances E. Noble Prize for Excellence in French, an award given to the student with the highest grade point average in French among graduating French majors.
Britt Hamer of Midland, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish received the Premio Joan Coromines Award, an award given to a student who demonstrates exemplary academic achievement in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Jamie Hanson of Holland, Mich., a senior majoring in finance, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award, Hanson was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average, and a 3.5 GPA in her major.
Aimee Harasim of Mattawan, Mich., a senior majoring in English and Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Thomas Haskell of Athens, Ohio, a senior science major, received the Eunice E. Kraft Award in Classics, an award given to an outstanding student studying Latin or Greek.
Kirsten Jorgensen of Rockford, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major or minor to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award Jorgensen was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average, and a 3.5 GPA in her major.
Gregory Laing of Kalamazoo, received the $700 Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship in Latin, an award given to a language student who demonstrates outstanding academic performance and potential.
Michele Louis of Vicksburg, Mich., a junior majoring in Spanish, received the$1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Kimberly Lund of Otsego, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish received the $650 Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Travel/Study Abroad Award to pursue her studies in French. Lund was also the recipient of the Prix d'Honneur de l'Ambassadeur de France, an award given by the French Embassy to the outstanding student of French in the graduating class.
Katherine May of Lewiston, Mich., a senior majoring in environmental studies and Spanish, received the$1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Errin Menna of Trenton, Mich., a junior majoring in Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Nicole Metcalf of Marne, Mich., a graduate student majoring in Spanish, received the Sue C. Mardis Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance to a graduate student for study in a Spanish-speaking country, and was made possible through a donation by the family of the late Mardis, a high school language teacher.
Hillary Molengraff of Holland, Mich., a senior majoring in management, received the Premio Suzanne M. Wheatley Award, named in honor of a WMU Spanish major who died in a 1988 accident and awarded to a student on the basis of academic performance and an interest in traveling to Spain.
Melissa Moren of Rochester Hills, Mich., a junior, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major or minor to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award Moren was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average and a 3.5 GPA in her German major.
Samantha Mudge of South Lyon, Mich., a senior majoring in music education and Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Kathleen Mullane of Grand Blanc, Mich., a junior majoring in German, received the $700 Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship in German, an award given to a foreign language major demonstrating outstanding academic performance and potential.
Jessica Myers of White Cloud, Mich., a sophomore majoring in Spanish, received the Excellence in Italian Award, an award given to a student in recognition of academic achievement in Italian.
Andrea Pieh of Tecumseh, Mich., a senior majoring in French, received the John B. Dorstewitz Award in French, named in honor of a WMU French student who died in an 1997 accident. This award is given to a student who demonstrates excellence in the study of French.
Casey Pierce of Northport, Mich., a junior majoring in Spanish, received the $1,100 Ruth Y. Kirby Scholarship in Spanish. The award provides financial assistance for Spanish majors and was made possible through a donation by the late Kirby, who taught Spanish in the Kalamazoo community.
Dacia Reinhold of Williamsburg, Mich., a senior majoring in human resources, received the President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major or minor to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award Reinhold was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average, and a 3.5 GPA in her Spanish minor.
Carlos Santiago Lugo of Kalamazoo, a junior sales major, received the Premio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Award, an award given to a student who demonstrates overall excellence in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Rachel Schleichert of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in biological sciences, received the$700 Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship in French, an award given to a foreign language major who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance and potential.
Vanda Snyder of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in Spanish, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award, Snyder was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average and a 3.5 GPA in her major.
Corey Starnes of Big Rapids, Mich., a senior majoring in Spanish, received the Excellence in Italian Award, an award given in recognition of his academic achievement in Italian.
Shannon Takacs of Demotte, Ill., a junior majoring in French, received the $250 Margaret H. Brooks Award, an award given to an exemplary student of French, to continue her language studies.
Van Thanh Vo of Holland, Mich., a junior majoring in math, received the $650 Foreign Languages and Literatures Department Travel/Study Abroad Award to pursue her studies in French. Van Thanh Vo was also the recipient of the Prix de l'Alliance Française, an award given to a student who demonstrates exemplary student involvement in French activities.
Heather Tubbs of Sandusky, Mich., a senior majoring in nursing, received the Premio Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award, an award given to recognize excellence in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Ellen Waisanen of Farmington, Mich., a junior majoring in Spanish, received the $2,000 President's Scholarship for Study Abroad, an award given to a foreign language major to study abroad for at least one semester. To receive the award, Waisanen was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average and a 3.5 GPA in her Spanish major.
Kristine Waldie of Coopersville, Mich., a senior majoring in German, received the $1,000 Hermann E. Rothfuss Award for Excellence in German, an award given for her outstanding academic performance in the study of German language.
Shaun Wayman of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in English, received the Premio Octavio Paz Award, given to a student who demonstrates exemplary academic achievement in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Katherine Wildes of Kalamazoo, a sophomore majoring in music, received the Excellence in Russian Award, an award given to a student for exemplary academic achievement in the study of Russian language.
Kristen Yount of Troy, Mich., a senior majoring in marketing, received the Premio Rosalía de Castro Award, an award given to a student who demonstrates overall excellence in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Angela Zainea of Jackson, Mich., a senior majoring in communications, received the $500 Herb B. Jones Scholarship in Spanish, an award given to a student who has demonstrated overall excellence in written and spoken Spanish.
Media contact: Matt Gerard, 269 387-8400, matthew.gerard@wmich.edu