Three OSU alums awarded trips to teach abroad
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Three OSU alums have been awarded assistantships to teach English overseas in the 2012-2013 school year. Latasha Wilson from Stillwater and Caitlin Cleary from Tulsa have each been awarded Fulbright assistantships to teach in Turkey and the French Ministry of Education has awarded a teaching assistantship to Erin Nordquist of Stillwater to teach in France. Read specifics for each below.
Latasha Wilson awarded U.S. Student Fulbright award to teach English
Latasha Wilson, a political science and German major at Oklahoma State University, has been awarded a U.S. Student Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Turkey for 2012-2013. Her previous trips include South America, Europe, Asia and Africa and work as a Foreign Service intern for the U.S. Department of State in Vienna, Austria. Wilson recently conducted research and interviews for the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at OSU. She hopes to develop a travel club and continue studies of oral history in her spare time in Turkey.
“This is a chance to fully immerse myself in the Turkish culture and foster understanding between two very different countries,” said Wilson. “Turkey is an important partner to the United States and I am excited to get to know the people and learn more about the country. This is a great honor for me, and I am grateful for the experiences I have had at OSU that have helped prepare me for this journey.”
“I have had incredible mentors and assistance in learning other languages and am eager to pass this on to students in Turkey, added Wilson. “I have been shown tremendous hospitality around the world and have learned through my experience the importance of giving back.”
Wilson is the daughter of Randy and Donna Wilson and a 2002 graduate of Stillwater High School. In addition to her BS from OSU in 2006, she received a MS in International Studies from OSU in 2009. She plans to pursue a career as a Foreign Service officer in the Public Diplomacy section, working in international relations through the U.S. Department of State. Coupled with her broad international experience, she intends to employ her communication skills to improve understanding between diverse countries and represent the U.S. in its interactions around the world.
Erin Nordquist awarded teaching assistantship in France
The French Ministry of Education has awarded Erin Nordquist, a graduate from Oklahoma State University, a teaching assistant position in France for 2012 to 2013. She will assist with English classes at the secondary level in a village near Montpellier. After studying the French language, history and culture for the past three and a half years at OSU, Nordquist will have the opportunity to discover France first hand.
Nordquist was introduced to the French language when she studied abroad in Verviers, Belgium with Rotary International during the 2007-2008 school year. “While learning a language by immersion is one of the fastest ways, it is certainly not the easiest,” said Nordquist, who attended a Belgian high school and lived with three Belgian host families during her stay. “My experience in Belgium may have been slightly different had my language skills been stronger from the beginning. I want to emphasize to students the benefits of acquiring another language as well as encourage them to seek opportunities to study abroad.”
Upon returning to the United States, Nordquist will pursue a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Nordquist, a 2007 graduate of Stillwater High School, is the daughter of Mark and Tracy Nordquist. She graduated from OSU in December 2011 with a degree in French and a minor in English.
Caitlin Cleary receives Fulbright award to teach English
Caitlin Cleary, a 2011 graduate of the International Studies MS program at Oklahoma State University, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Turkey for 2012-2013. Caitlin has traveled extensively in Latin America, including three visits to Honduras. During a three-month stay in Honduras, she helped start nearly a dozen gardens in several local schools. Caitlin chose Turkey after completing a course on gender in the Middle East and being exposed to the historical and cultural richness Turkey has to offer.
Cleary is fluent in Spanish, and is currently learning Arabic and Turkish. “This Fulbright is such an amazing opportunity,” said Cleary, “I cannot wait to immerse myself in Turkish culture and engage students to explore the English language. I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. Thomas Kuzmic, who led me on two trips to Honduras and encouraged me to always travel off the beaten path with an open mind. His guidance has truly fostered my love of travel and I am forever grateful!”
Cleary, a Tulsa native and 2004 graduate of Bishop Kelley High School, is the daughter of Paul and Julie Cleary. She received a BA in 2008 from the University of Tulsa in film production and anthropology. She has been teaching English as a second language at OSU’s English Language Institute and the Family Resource Center for the past year while moonlighting as a drum instructor at Billy’s Drum Shop. Upon the completion of her award, Caitlin plans to pursue a career in international disaster management.