For Immediate Release
Contact: Lea Ann Scales
Assistant Vice President
of Public Relations and Marketing
508-929-8018
August 7, 2012
(Worcester, Mass)--Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) Director Susan Seibel told the 42 students receiving certificates, “you are all Olympians to me. You have all just won gold,” at the IELI Summer 2012 certificate ceremony, Friday August 3, at Worcester State University.
President Barry M. Maloney praised the students for their accomplishments and thanked them for contributing to the university. “The IELI is a shining example of our effort to provide a richer,more international experience to our campus. Your presence here is an incredible asset to this university. The rich array of countries and cultures you represent enriches us all.”
Six student speakers from five different countries(China, Honduras, Italy, Ghana and Dominican Republic) reflected on what the experience meant to them. All of them noted that in addition to improving their English reading, writing and speaking skills, they gained a broader global understanding from their classmates. Carlos Alberto Bravo Castillo from Mexico, said, “I met people from different countries and cultures. We gained self-confidence and I would come back again if I could to repeat great memories.” Reina Ulloa of Honduras, said that in addition to learning English, she learned about Greece, Colombia, and Brazil, just to name a few of the home countries of her fellow students. Sister Monica Bedogni of Italy told the crowd she could not speak any English when she arrived in the U.S. in 2010. Her instructor tasked her with saying the words, “I can speak English,” three times a day when she first arrived. “Now I can speak English,” she said proudly.
Students receiving certificates were:
Yaw M. Adri
Rawan Saeed Abdulhaq
Omar Alaboud
Ingrid Alarcon
Raeesah Aldelaigan
Maab Alhazmi
Ahmed Alhazmi
Rihab Alhazmy
Nilva Allen
Hend Altalli
Violet E. Anabaka
Shahram Ariana
Lujain Ashoor
Rana Badawi
Monica Bedogni
Carlos Alberto Bravo Castillo
Bilal Camlibel
Eliana Correia Jahnke
St. Cyr Dimanche
Juliane Fernanda Dos Santos Pessoa
Lou Gohi Edwige Sarrah Gohon
Deisy Milena Gomez-Conde
German Gonzalez Alvarez
Ugur Hortum
Cristina Izquierdo Nunez
Mejvis Kore
Diana Maria Leon Zuluaga
Ji-Hyun Lim
Luzmary Lopez Beserritt
Jean-Phillippe Matondo
Keomanivanh Nuanhngam
Maria Azucena Ortega
Anjeza Papthemistokli
Roshaniben Patel
Jonathan Reyes
Anthony Rosa
Rana Saber
Cristian Santana Vargas
Laudiceia Silva
Reina Ulloa
Xi Shun Su
Salihcan Yaman
Rui Yu
Photo caption: Student speakers Carlos Alberto Bravo Castillo from Mexico, Xi Shun Su from China, Reina Ulloafrom Honduras Sister Monica Bedogni from Italy, Yaw Adri from Ghana and Jonathan Reyes from the Dominican Republic are pictured with WSU President Barry M. Maloney, Provost and Academic Affairs Vice President Dr. Charles Cullum and Associate Vice President of Graduate and Continuing Education Dr.William White at the Summer 2012 IELI certificate ceremony.
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