Plymouth State University

Madison Fleming, left, with Language and Linguistics department Chair Barbara Lopez-Mayhew

PLYMOUTH, N.H.-Plymouth State University’s Language and Linguistics Department recognized outstanding students at their annual department awards and Phi Sigma Iota Honor Society induction ceremony April 9. PSU President Sara Jayne Steen addressed the gathering of students and faculty.

“I have such respect for students who are achieving at this level,” said Steen. “It means a great deal to the faculty to have students at this level of excellence.”

Department Chair Barbara Lopez-Mayhew said the ceremony is a celebration of scholarly achievement.

“It’s a pleasure to honor these students who dedicate much time and effort to develop advanced language skills and who have excelled in their university studies,” Lopez-Mayhew said.

Plymouth State juniors and seniors who achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 in their language major or minor are nominated to join Phi Sigma Iota, an honor society whose members are selected as outstanding advanced students of foreign languages and literatures. The following are this year’s initiates.

Elizabeth Chartrand, French, Rory Dunphy, Spanish, Lindsey Legere, Spanish, Arinda Stokes, French, Amy Stolting, German and Elizabeth Wong, French

The Madie Barrett Scholarship Award is given to students who have proven their commitment to their academics. The recipients include Lauren Bergeron,$1200 tuition award, Michaela Rupp, $600 tuition award and Sarah Ward, $600 tuition award.

The PSU Language and Linguistics Department Awards are given to students who have gone above and beyond and have proven their excellence within their language. This year’s recognized students include:

Matthew Balfe, Mandarin Chinese, Lori Boucher, Spanish,
Victoria Green, French, Amber Lewis, Romanian, Christopher Lind, German, Andrew Morrissey, Latin, Matthew Prindiville, Arabic.

Students inducted into the World Language Society include Rory Dunphy, Nick Connell, Madison Fleming and Kaplan Scanlon.

The top graduating senior is Madison Fleming, a French major who has also taken American Sign Language, Arabic and Spanish classes. She has also served as a French supplemental instructor and a lab assistant for the department.

Through language study, Language and Linguistics students at PSU are exposed to a variety of people, their customs, beliefs, cultures, literature, music, art, film, history and civilizations. The focus is on the development of language skills, as well as interpretative, critical and creative thinking.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu