German Studies Majors
NC State University
Alumni Portraits
Spring 2009
Spring 2008
During her first four years at NC State University, Jennifer completed a degree in Biomedical Engineering as a Caldwell Scholar. In her fifth year she added a degree in German Studies with a Science and Technology concentration and a minor in Coaching Education and Fitness Leadership as a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. She was a valedictorian for both degrees and was also a distance runner on NC State's Cross Country and Track teams. She enjoyed competing for her university for these five years. To pass on her love of the sport, she also helped coach a local high school's running programs. Immediately after leaving NC State, Jennifer will conduct summer research in Mechanical Engineering at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (University of Aachen) in Germany. She is very excited about this opportunity to combine her majors while immersing herself in German culture. She also looks forward to authentic, live performances of music written by German composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. In October 2008, she will begin her D.Phil. in Engineering Science (Orthopaedic Engineering) at the University of Oxford, Great Britain. A Rhodes Scholarship Finalist in 2007, she was awarded the prestigious Clarendon Award as well as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to finance her advanced degree. Her future plans include becoming a Biomechanics professor and researching lower extremity injury rehabilitation and prevention.
William graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in German Studies, with a concentration in Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He also completed a minor in History. William is interested in German language, culture, and history, and completed his study abroad requirement in Heidelberg from September 2006 – April 2007. In the realm of engineering, William likes aerospace systems, spaceship and satellite design, and astronomical instruments. After graduating, William will participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. This is a yearlong program with an emphasis on cultural exchange, including a two month language course, a semester of study at a university or technical school, and a five month internship with a company in his professional field. William is graduating with honors (Magna Cum Laude) and was awarded the Julia Wood Skinner scholarship award for his study of German. He also received recognition for his study of the works of Kafka and Mann in his German Senior Seminar, as well as an award for being a “Study Abroad Poster Child.” He was also recently inducted into the German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha. William ultimately hopes to use both his skills in engineering and German during his professional career.
During her time at NC State University, Jordan majored in Religious Studies, History and finally German Studies. She pursued studying German because she felt that learning the language and the culture would greatly enrich her life - which it did. Because of her studies she had many opportunities that she would not have had otherwise, such as her experience studying abroad in Germany during Soccer World Cup 2006! Jordan is a member of Delta Phi Alpha (German Honor Society), the German Club, the History Club and the Religious Studies Club. She graduated cum laude from NC State. Her future plans are to continue her education and, if possible, explore further opportunities abroad. She hopes to study in Germany again and continue to advance her language skills even more. She is pursuing scholarship opportunities, such as the Fulbright, to achieve these goals. While in college, Jordan was substitute teaching in kindergarten through high school. She hopes to teach in the future and will continue substituting until she receives a permanent position. Besides educational goals and desires, she has aspirations to start a family (and encourage them all to learn German) and will be getting married in October 2008.
