Campbellsville University

Campbellsville University’s ESL Institute holds pinning ceremony

Campbellsville University’s ESL Institute holds pinning ceremony

By Simon Baker | 01/05/2023

Participants in Campbellsville University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Institute graduation ceremony include from left: Front row–Vicky Campbell, Miu Imai, Miguel Carrillo, Ayleen Murillo, Fabiana Santoro, Raquel Cunha and Robert Parrish. Second row–Dr. Eduardo Trindade, Juan Moliner, Dan Tshey, Luis Perez, Elias Kasr, Amarbayasgalan Zorigtbaatar and Joshua Detherage. Third row–Mi Hyun “Kay” Bell. (Campbellsville University Photo by Bienvenu “Moe” Mugisha)

By Simon Baker, student news writer, Office of University Communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -Campbellsville University's English as a Second Language (ESL) Institute honored students who graduated from the program Dec. 7 in The Gheens Recital Hall.

Raquel Cunha, director of ESL at Campbellsville University, welcomed everyone and  said she is from Brazil and came to Campbellsville University in 2007.

“I have great memories from ESL,” she said. “I made many friends and enjoyed my life as an ESL student. And, in 2008, I completed my ESL program.”

Dr. Joseph Hopkins, president of Campbellsville University, said, “I am exceedingly proud of what Campbellsville University is doing through the ESL. “In today's culture, we have backed away from internal studies in too many places.

“But, at Campbellsville University, we surpass previous levels and do incredible things. We are proud a student can come to Campbellsville University and encounter the entire world.”

Hopkins said Campbellsville University has students from 92 different countries.

Joshua Detherage, ESL and Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) instructor, presented the ESL Outstanding Award to Elias Riyad Elyas Kasr from Venezuela.

Detherage said, “This award is given to the graduating student who exemplifies the following criteria: academic achievement, cultural awareness, positive class involvement and community connectedness.”

 Detherage said Elyas has “demonstrated academic excellence in the classroom and has actively participated in lessons and interacted well with students from a variety of cultural backgrounds.”

Students graduating from the ESL program were Miguel Angel Briceno Carrillo from Columbia, Miu Imai from Japan, Elias Riyad Elyas Kasr from Venezuela, Juan Vitor Moliner from Brazil, Ayleen Menacho Murillo from Bolivia, Luis Alejandro Perez from Venezuela, Fabiana Di Feliciantonio Santoro from Venezuela, Dan Tshijik Tshey from Congo and  Amarbayasgalan Zorigtbaatar from Mongolia.

Robert Parrish, ESL and MA TESOL instructor; Raquel Cunha, director of ESL, and Dr. Eduardo Trindade, MA TESOL director and assistant professor, presented the completion certificates.

Amanda Goforth, director of the Center for Global Engagement at Campbellsville University, told students, “Sharing a language allows people to more easily make friends and to learn more about people from other cultures.”

Trindade gave closing remarks, and Elizabeth “Vicky” Campbell, instructor in ESL, closed the ceremony in prayer.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students. The university offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.