Message from Global Languages Director Emma J. Teng

Dear Global Languages community,

Today we celebrate Commencement for the Class of 2022. It’s been a long road, and you persevered in the face of continuing uncertainties and challenges! We salute your extraordinary achievements, Class of 2022!

To graduating seniors, and to all our students, we hope you will have a relaxing summer filled with adventure and new experiences. Thanks for making Global Languages such a vibrant community of learners. Come back and visit us if you are ever in the area.

My very best wishes,
Emma

Hats Off to graduating Global Language students

Global Languages gives hearty congratulations to the entire class of 2022, with special recognition to our graduating 24 graduating minors, and 194 graduating concentrators.

Congratulations to Global Languages student award winners

Global Languages Excellence Awards are presented to outstanding students who best reflect the unit’s goals for achievement of proficiency in language, cultural understanding and enthusiasm in language learning. Brian Hoh, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Class of 2022, won first Prize for his study of German, Chinese, and Russian. Luz Grisales Gomez, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2022, is the recipient of the Ellen Crocker Distinguished Scholar award for her study of Portuguese and French. Linh Nguyen, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2022, is the recipient of the Margarita Ribas Groeger Distinguished Scholar award for her work in Spanish and French.

The Miyagawa Japanese Prize is awarded annually to students who demonstrate excellence in their study of Japanese. Recipients this year are Dean Fanggohans, Computer Science and Engineering, Class of 2023; and Zi Song Yeoh, Mathematics, Class of 2024.

The Jing Wang Memorial Prize recognizes students who have excelled in their study of Chinese. Winners of this award this year are Michael Diao, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, G; and Kristen E Palmer, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2023.

The German Excellence Award honors students who exhibit excellent language skills and creativity in the study of German language and culture in classes at MIT. The First Prize this year is Valeria Robayo, Class of 2023. Second Prize went to Crista Falk, Class of 2023; Vin Armelin, Class of 2023; Jiahui Du, Class of 2023; Willow Huang, Class of 2025; and Stefan Damchevski, Class of 2023. Third Prize was awarded to Jerry Mao, Class of 2023; Hasan Zeki Yildiz, Class of 2025; Timmy Bui, Class of 2025; Liane Makatura, G; Remi Harrison, Class of 2024; Ruth Shiferaw, Class of 2025; Zipei Tan, Class of 2024; Sherry Nyeo, Class of 2023; Lucia Padilla, Class of 2023; and Alexis Zitzmann, Class of 2024.

The Global Languages 2022 Speech Contest invited students to record a video in a language they are studying at MIT, and the submissions were judged on their accuracy, clarity, and creativity. The winners were Vivian Hir, Class of 2025, for a video in Chinese; Michael Iglesias, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2023, for a video in Japanese; Madeline Wang, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2022, for a video in Korean; and Theo St. Francis, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Class of 2023, for a video in Portuguese. Special congratulations to the Grand Prize Winner who will be unveiled at 5pm today. Make sure to check our website!

The De Courtivron Writing Prize recognizes high-quality undergraduate writing (creative or expository) on topics related to immigrant, diaspora, bicultural, bilingual, and/or mixed-race experiences. First Prize was awarded to Britney Ting, Computer Science and Engineering, Class of 2022. Second Prize went to Susan Su, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2023. Honorable Mentions were awarded to Alana Chandler, Materials Science and Engineering, Class of 2022; and Hillary Tamirepi, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2022.

Salute to winners of other awards

Congratulations to all the students who are recipients of other awards, and in particular to the Global Languages Minors and Concentrators among them!

• Fulbright US Student Program funds opportunities for research, graduate study, and teaching abroad. Congrats to our Fulbright Recipients.
• The Knight-Hennessy Fellowship funds graduate studies at Stanford University. Congratulations to the selected 2022 Knight-Hennessy scholars
• Six MIT students have been awarded 2022-23 Schwarzman Scholarships. They will head to Tsinghua University in Beijing next August to pursue a one-year master’s degree in global affairs.
• We also salute those invited to join the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa organization. Bravo/Brava/Bravi!