Congrats, Graduates! Meet the Fall Class of 2021

With commencement taking place this weekend, we want to take a moment to celebrate our School of Modern Languages Class of Fall 2021 graduates. 

Our graduating class has shown great determination to overcome many obstacles during their time at Tech. Now, as they embark on their next adventures, we know they take with them the skills to foster meaningful communicative and cultural interactions.

As Michelle Obama said, "Don't be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered." We can't wait to see what you achieve next as global leaders!

Stephanie Ford Headshot

Stephanie Ford

Degree Program: M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies — German

Post-Graduation Plans?

I am interested in combining my interest in climate & social activism, multilingualism, journalism, and storytelling.

Favorite/most memorable moment in Modern Languages?

One of the most rewarding moments for me was during my Advanced Stylistics course with Professor Joo. The creative writing assignments with the chapter vocabulary words allowed me to apply new (or rusty) German vocabulary in a story or essay form. I noticed that my writing flow improved each time, and I could better consider how I wanted to use the words before I actually began writing.

What advice would you give to incoming students in Modern Languages?

Have fun with it, combine something you love already with your target language area of focus, and be inspired by new ideas.

Congratulations, Stephanie!

Edward Freeman

Degree Program: B.S. in Applied Language and Intercultural Studies — Spanish, B.S. Biology

Post-Graduation Plans?

I plan on taking a gap year to pursue Biotechnology research opportunities before applying and matriculating into medical school. I also plan on spending time exploring Central and South America.

What made you decide to study Spanish at Georgia Tech?
I decided to study Spanish because I wanted to advance my understanding of the language and to take a diverse, broad mix of coursework that would increase my cultural competency in a global setting. I had taken Spanish in middle and high school and found it necessary to continue learning. In addition, I am interested in pursuing global healthcare opportunities.

Which professor or staff member in Modern Languages has had the biggest impact on you and why?

The professor that has had a large impact on me during my undergraduate career has been Dr. Miguel Rosas-Buendia. I took Conversation I during fall 2019 and quickly gained strong conversational skills and had the ability to debate complex topics. During class, we were given various topics to discuss, many of which informed us about historical and societal information of the Hispanophone world. I left the course with an expanded vocabulary and more developed comprehension. My conversational skills greatly improved while taking the course, and in turn, my professional development benefited because of it. I enjoyed being challenged in my courses and Dr. Rosas-Buendia inspired me to pursue more opportunities where I can further develop conversational skills.

Congratulations, Edward!

Edward Freeman Headshot
Liz Soos

Liz Soos

Degree Program: M.S. in Global Media and Cultures — Spanish

Post-graduation plans?

Looking for work and resting.

What made you decide to study Spanish at Georgia Tech?

I am a heritage speaker. My family is Colombian and Venezuelan, but this was the first time I ever had formal education in Spanish. I was interested in understanding the culture I grew up in and around and how to do that in an academic setting while also gaining confidence in my language skills outside of informal familiar settings.

What’s the coolest research/project/initiative/event you’ve worked on in Modern Languages?

The Global Documentary class was fun and motivated my progress on the final project allowing me to start working on it and failing in ways I needed to in order to get to the final product I delivered. It was a class that intersected with my project and provided training and space to complete the work while also giving me the only in-person class I had during the program.

Congratulations, Liz!

Aaron Thomas

Degree Program: B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies — Chinese, B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, with a minor in Physics

Post-graduation plans?

I will be attending graduate school for materials science and engineering.

What inspired you to be a double major? How do you feel language skills complement your other area of study?

Communication with colleagues inspired me. China is becoming increasingly important in the world of materials science, doing a large amount of first-rate research. In addition, TSMC is a Taiwanese company that controls much of the semiconductor industry.

What advice would you give to incoming students in Modern Languages?

Many people will tell you that you can’t double major — that it’s impractical and will burn you out. Set your own rules for what you can do, and finish what you start. Set some time each and every day to practice your language. Mutter under your breath if you need to. Constant, consistent practice is worth its weight in gold; language skills cannot be rushed.

Congratulations, Aaron!

aaron
Will Thomas Headshot

Will Thomas

Degree Program: M.S. in Global Media and Cultures — German

Post-graduation plans?

I’m interested in continuing my work to address online misinformation and extremism in a transnational context.

What made you decide to study German at the graduate level at Georgia Tech?

I was thrilled to take part in this brand-new master’s program and to learn and work within the flexibility this program offers.

What was your favorite class in Modern Languages and why?

I loved taking Dr. Orich’s class on the German political system. It was great to spend time looking academically at a field I had experience working in.

Congratulations, Will!

Samuel Weiss-Cowie

Degree Program: B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, B.S. in Neuroscience, with a minor in Linguistics

Post-Graduation Plans?

I am currently applying for Ph.D. programs in cognitive neuroscience and hope to start next fall. In the interim, I am planning on spending three months traveling in South Korea.

What has been your favorite/most memorable moment in Modern Languages?

For me, it would be difficult not to pick the Korean Language for Business and Technology (LBAT). Studying abroad had been a longtime dream of mine, so I was ecstatic about having the chance to live and take courses in South Korea over two months in the summer of 2019. Reflecting on it, I feel very fortunate that I ended up going on the LBAT that year before Covid disrupted travel plans for so many people.

What advice would you give to incoming students in Modern Languages?

I would encourage other students to get involved with the Georgia Tech Language Institute. Attending their weekly language café gave me a great opportunity to improve my Korean by talking to native speakers while simultaneously helping them practice their English.

Congratulations, Samuel!

Sammy Headshot

The School of Modern Languages is proud to award degrees to 16 graduates at the Fall 2021 commencement ceremony. Join us for the Ph.D. and Master’s ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 17, and the Bachelor's ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18.