2026 Student Awards for Excellence

Celebrating the passion and dedication of our students

Awarded annually, this prize is presented to outstanding students in Global Languages who best reflect the unit’s goals for achievement of proficiency in language and cultural understanding, and enthusiasm in language learning.

First Place, Student Award for Excellence

Loreta Arzumanyan exemplifies the intellectual curiosity, dedication, and community spirit at the heart of Global Languages. She has taken nearly every German course offered at MIT, and also completed independent studies on an extraordinary range of German-language literature, philosophy, and critical theory. Her commitment extends across the division: in addition to her German coursework, she has pursued advanced study in Spanish and French, completing fifteen language courses in total. Beyond the classroom, Loreta has been an indispensable presence in the Global Languages community as an ambassador, event participant, and enthusiastic advocate for language learning. Whether supporting peers, connecting with faculty and staff, or welcoming prospective students, she embodies the academic rigor and generosity of spirit that define this award.

Loreta Arzumanyan (Left) and Emily Goodling (Right), Lecturer in German

Loreta Arzumanyan (Left) and Emily Goodling (Right), Lecturer in German

Margarita Ribas Groeger Distinguished Scholar

Alison (Ali) Rufo,  an outstanding MIT undergraduate pursuing a  major in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science, is recognized for exceptional achievement in language study in Russian and Spanish. Deeply committed to applying her language skills in real-world contexts, Ali participated in the MISTI Peru program, where she immersed herself in both language and culture, practicing Spanish and Quechua skills, and further advanced her Spanish through MIT’s Spanish Incubator program in Madrid.  Ali is an active and enthusiastic contributor to the Russian program, helping organize extracurricular events, such as a concert trip in Spring 2026. This summer, she will return to Peru to further develop her PKG-funded project focused on revitalizing Indigenous water storage technologies in the Andes, reflecting both her interdisciplinary academic training and commitment to sustainability. She will also intern at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments in Washington, DC, bringing her global perspective and language skills into the policy sphere. In spring 2027, Ali will continue her international academic work as part of the MISTI–Sciences Po exchange program in Paris.

Alison Rufo (Left) and Maria Khotimsky (Right), Senior Lecturer in Russian

Alison Rufo (Left) and Maria Khotimsky (Right), Senior Lecturer in Russian

Ellen Crocker Distinguished Scholar

Sarah Lov, Class of 2025, Course 6 (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), is recognized for her outstanding studies in Chinese. Her journey reflects academic excellence, resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to language and culture. Born and raised in Cambodia in a non-Mandarin-speaking family, Sarah later moved to the United States and attended a high school with limited access to Asian languages and cultural resources. Despite this, she chose to pursue Chinese and, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completed ten language courses across both Chinese and Korean, reaching advanced proficiency in both. Most notably, she progressed from MIT’s non-heritage Chinese track into heritage-level courses through exceptional dedication and achievement—an uncommon accomplishment in the program. Outside the classroom, Sarah has been active in the Association of Taiwanese Students and engaged in language and cultural exchange activities through her Korean studies. Her enthusiasm and cross-cultural engagement embody the spirit of lifelong language learning and global citizenship.

Sarah Lov(Left) and Panpan Gao(Right), Lecturer in Chinese

Sarah Lov(Left) and Panpan Gao(Right), Lecturer in Chinese

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