On Friday, April 9, the College of Arts and Humanities held its annual awards ceremony to honor the exceptional achievements of CAAH students.
The in-person ceremony, which was initiated with live music performed by the Clemson University String Quartet, was attended by the honorees, CAAH Faculty, Chairs of the Departments, Dean Nicholas Vazsonyi, and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Elysse Newman.
The Department of Languages awarded seven outstanding students:
Amanda White (Ann and Lamar Bayne Award for Excellence in American Sign Language), William Taylor (Award for Excellence in Spanish), Nikita Tran (JAASC Award in Excellence in Japanese), Sydney Tindall (Clemson Chinese Laoshi Awards for Best Achievement), Lauren Cvitkovic (Language and International Health Award for Excellence), Jessica Cole (Jordan A. Dean, Sr. Annual Award in French Studies), and Meredith Harley (Patricia Walker Wannamaker Language and International Trade Award for Highest Merit).
Congratulations to these exceptional students on their commendable achievements!
The Language and International Business program (LAIB) will host a panel discussion this Wednesday, March 8, at 3:00 pm via Zoom. This panel discussion, which will feature alumni of the Language and International Business program, is open to all Clemson students. Registration is still open!
The panelists will share their experiences, including how they used their language skills to launch their careers. There will be ample time to ask questions and get lots of ideas and advice you can use as you start making your own career plans. This event is open to all Clemson students, but it will be especially relevant to LAIB students, Modern Languages majors, students in language classes, and any student who is interested in pursuing a career with an international component.
Please note that you must be registered to attend.
What: Graduates from Clemson’s Language and International Business Program talk about their careers and offer advice to current students
Five Department of Languages majors have been nominated for membership in the Clemson University chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and among the most prestigious academic honor societies in the United States.
Founded in 1776, the Phi Beta Kappa honor society recognizes outstanding students of Liberal Arts and Sciences who not only demonstrate excellence in their fields of study but excellence in other branches of liberal arts along with a strong moral character.
The Department of Languages inductees are Gabrielle Garringer (Language and Intl Business), Mara MacDonald (Language and Intl Business), Olivia Moran (Language and Intl Business), Alexandra Karnes (Language and Intl Trade), and Mari Lentini (Language and Intl Trade).
The induction ceremony will be virtual and will take place later this semester.
With Spring Semester 2021 underway and the Clemson community adapting to challenges in innovative and impressive ways, it is interesting to look back and reflect on some of the ways the Department of Languages students, faculty and alumni have been navigating these unusual times. Fall Semester 2020 brought with it many unique experiences and ways to stay engaged and make connections. In our “Fall 2020 Reflections” posts, we are excited to take a look at specific events, opportunities and accomplishments that we saw last semester and which set the stage for even more exciting opportunities this Spring and beyond.
NOVEMBER, 2020
On November 25, the Language and International Health (L&IH) Society sponsored “La Canasta Básica: Culturally relevant healthy food options for Latinx communities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Rut Rivera speaks during a webinar hosted by the L&IH Society. (Photo courtesy of Arelis Moore de Peralta)
Rut Rivera, a manager of the health promotion organization, PASOs in Greenville, SC, presented her experience with program development and community relations within the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the webinar, Rivera discussed a new initiative set forth by a collaboration between the Hispanic Alliance and PASOs of Greenville, Canasta Básica, which seeks to provide culturally appropriate food to the local hispanic community suffering from food scarcity as a result of the pandemic. The coalition boasts having connected 2,879 community members with resources during these challenging times.
Her presentation gave students the opportunity to volunteer in the program’s future events and connect with other project managers from PASOs and the Hispanic Alliance. Students were also encouraged to inquire about life in the field of community development. Rivera’s passion for community outreach was obvious and inspiring to all those who attended.
With Spring Semester 2021 now underway, it is exciting to reflect on some of the ways the Department of Languages students, faculty and alumni have been navigating these unusual times. Fall Semester 2020 brought with it many unique experiences and ways to stay engaged and make connections. In our “Fall 2020 Reflections” posts, we are excited to take a look at specific events, opportunities and accomplishments that we saw last semester and which set the stage for even more exciting opportunities this Spring and beyond.
OCTOBER 2020
The virtual business panel was hosted via Zoom. Photo courtesy of Johannes Schmidt
The German Professional Society organized an alumni business panel on Thursday, October 22nd. This online panel discussion was held in lieu of the regular annual German Professional Conference.
Moderated by GPS President James Bradham (Mechanical Engineering), the panel welcomed alumni Alexia (Andrews) Herberg (German and Political Science), Adidas Herzogenaurach; Anne (Murken ) Meyer (German and International Business), Hochschule Bremen; Brian Wright (German and Mechanical Engineering), BMW, Greer, SC; Austin Jordan (German and International Business ) Bosch-Rexroth, Simpsonville, SC; Matthew Allen (German and Physics), German-American Chamber of Commerce, New York
The event provided current students of German and others an opportunity to learn from our alumni about transitioning into the workplace, opportunities available with language skills and a chance to network with our former students now living and working in the US and abroad.
Madison Butler, a 2015 graduate of the Language and International Health program, has received a Spain English Teaching Assistantship from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, a prestigious exchange program offered by the U.S. Department of State and funded by the U.S. government, is awarded to student scholars who, through work and study opportunities and individual research projects in various participating countries, have the opportunity to facilitate cross-cultural understanding by interacting with and fully immersing in the language, culture, and society of the host country.
Madison will be teaching English in Spain as a Teaching Assistant for elementary, middle, or high school level students.
Four other Clemson students and one alumnus were also accepted to the 2020-2021 Fulbright program.
For more information about these outstanding students, see the announcement from the Newsstand.
The Department of Languages enthusiastically congratulates the following students and staff who won University and College awards this semester:
Carly Malcom
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Student Award
This award is present to two seniors in recognition of outstanding service to Clemson University and the extended Clemson community.
Courtney Grayson
Dre Martin Service Award
In memory of Chardrevius “Dre” Martin, the College of Arts and Humanities presents this award annually to a student in the college who is highly committed to service in our surrounding community, demonstrates a passion for helping others, and possesses a strong academic record.
Julia Dingle
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Customer Service
The College of Arts, Architecture and Humanities Dean’s Award for Outstanding Customer Service is given to a classified employee in recognition of outstanding customer service.
Congratulations to all on these well-deserved and commendable achievements!
Language and International Health major Courtney Grayson was awarded the Dre Martin Service Award by the College of Arts and Humanities as CAAH recognized its top students last month. The Dre Martin Service Award, founded in memory of Chardrevius “Dre” Martin, is awarded annually to an exemplary CAAH student who, in addition to strong academic distinction, displays a commitment to service in the community and demonstrates a passion for helping others.
Courtney, who is an L&IH major with a minor in animal and veterinary sciences, is a committed and enthusiastic student who has been able to combine her academic excellence with her passion for helping others, using her skills and compassion to make a difference in the greater Clemson community and beyond. As a student of the L&IH program, she has studied the Spanish language while gaining practical knowledge of healthcare and public health. She studied abroad in Argentina, where she had the opportunity to work rotations at a local hospital and apply the Spanish-language skills and health knowledge acquired as a student of the L&IH program to serve the local community in Argentina. Courtney has also been actively involved in the greater Clemson community, volunteering as an interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients at a local free clinic for the past two years.
Within the Clemson community, Courtney has volunteered at Tiger Town Animal Hospital as well as with America Reads, tutoring elementary school students in reading. She has also demonstrated her commitment to service through her support of the Clemson community at large and her engagement with the campus Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA). Dr. Arelis Moore de Peralta says of Courtney’s merits and volunteer work that she has “demonstrated a true commitment to the Clemson community, which she has impacted through her volunteerism and advocacy as an interpreter for low-income Hispanic patients, as an animal healer, as a tutor to increase elementary children’s success, and as a queer community’s advocate.”
Courtney plans to pursue a career in the public health sector serving vulnerable and underserved communities in the United States.
About the Dre Martin Service Award
The Dre Martin Service Award was founded in memory of Chardrevius “Dre” Martin. A graduate of the Language and International Health program, Dre is remembered a dedicated student who was constantly serving others at the university and in the community at large. This award seeks to recognize extraordinary CAAH students that embody this selfless commitment to others. Students may be nominated by a peer, a faculty member or a staff member.
Department of Languages Professor Emerita Clementina Adams was inducted into the College of Arts and Humanities Hall of Fame in a formal ceremony at the Madren Center on March 6, 2020.
This year, the College of Arts and Humanities welcomed eight new members to the CAAH Hall of Fame. Since its founding in 2017, the CAAH Hall of Fame has recognized exceptional individuals who are leaders in their profession or have made a significant impact on the educational, research and service goals of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
Professor Emerita Adams was nominated by the Department of Languages for her invaluable and continuing impact on the department, the profession, and the community. Dr. Adams was a valued member of the Languages Faculty from 1989 until 2014, during which time she designed, developed and implemented the innovative Language and International Health program along with Clemson University colleagues Sandy King, Hugh D. Spitler and Rachel Mayo. Dr. Adams also pioneered the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Department of Languages. Among her many honors at Clemson, Adams received the Board of Trustees Faculty Excellence Award twice. In retirement, she continues to volunteer as a medical interpreter for Hispanic patients.
Dr. Adams’ husband, Paul Adams, and daughter, Lauren S. Miller, were present at the ceremony.
Dr. Adams and her family at the CAAH Hall of Fame induction. Photo courtesy of Clemson University
About Clementina E. Adams
Dr. Clementina E. Adams earned a “Licenciatura” (M.A.) in Spanish Philology and Literature (1969) at Atlántico University, Barranquilla, Colombia. As an Organization of the American States (OAS) Scholar she earned a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Development (1974) and a doctorate in Instructional Systems (1984), both from Florida State University. She was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 1978.
Dr. Adams taught Spanish at Gallaudet University (1980-85), the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (1985-86) and Clemson University from 1989 until her retirement as Professor Emerita in 2014. Her research includes three books, eight book chapters, 43 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 31 funded grants. She has received numerous awards and served on advisory boards at the regional, state and national levels. At Clemson, she served on the Faculty Senate, Athletic Council, and Tenure and Promotion Committee. Dr. Adams received the Board of Trustees Faculty Excellence Award twice and the Service Alliance Faculty Fellow Award three times.
Dr. Adams designed, developed and implemented the Language and International Health program along with Dr. Sandy King from Languages, and Dr. Hugh D. Spitler and Dr. Rachel Mayo from Health Science. Dr. Adams served as founding director of the program (2004-09), which produced 213 graduates by fall 2019. Dr. Adams also pioneered the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Department of Languages offerings. Currently, that section has 21 majors and 75 minors.
In 2004, Dr. Adams completed medical interpreter training in Oakland, California. She has volunteered as a medical interpreter for Hispanic patients in the Upstate for more than a decade through the Joseph F. Sullivan Center. In 2015 she was certified as a Medical Interpreter by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCICH) and continued to volunteer through fall 2019.
More about the CAAH Hall of Fame induction ceremony from The Newsstand.
On December 5, 2019, the Clemson University German Section reactivated the German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha, by inducting three exceptional students.
Rachael Risinger is a senior Accounting major and German minor who is currently the president of the German Professional Society. Bennett Meares is a senior Computer Science major and German minor who is a former German Club president and is currently preparing to study abroad in Landshut, Germany. Houston Everett is a junior Computer Science major and German minor who is currently the president of the German Club. All three students have contributed immensely to the German program both inside and outside of the classroom and are great examples for achieving success as German students at Clemson University.
