Scholarships offer experiences in Germany

Tue, May 26, 2009 |

Two Valparaiso University students who are pursuing their career interests in church music and engineering in Germany next year have won highly competitive scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to support their studies.

Erin Dillon, a civil engineering and German major from West Lafayette, and Emily German, a German and music major from Fort Wayne, are among 61 undergraduate students from the United States and Canada selected for the scholarships. Since 2006, six Valpo students have won DAAD scholarships.

Dillon is enrolled in the Valparaiso International Engineering Program-German (VIEP-German), a five-year program that prepares Valpo engineering students for the increasingly global business world. During the fall semester, she will take courses in engineering and German language and culture at Valpo's Reutlingen Study Center. In January, she will start an engineering-related work experience at a German company or government agency.

"I look forward to having the chance next year to utilize both the engineering and German skills I have acquired over the past three years," Dillon said. "The scholarship has given me more motivation to pursue my goals while in Germany, namely, greater linguistic fluency, cultural literacy and international engineering perspective. This experience will provide a strong background for me to pursue my dream job of working at an international civil engineering firm."

German will study at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik (University for Church Music) in Rottenburg am Neckar next spring, taking courses in music history, liturgy and conducting in addition to individual organ lessons. She is the first student to participate in the new student exchange program between Valpo and the Hochschule, and noted that the German school offers a unique curriculum that will allow her to learn and apply skills in both church music and German.

"I am eagerly anticipating this study abroad experience," German said. "It will help me gain experience and knowledge geared towards a professional life of teaching German and music as well as serving as a church musician."

Dr. Sarah DeMaris, professor of foreign languages and literatures and director of Valpo's Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center, said that DAAD scholarship winners demonstrate a commitment global learning and building cross-cultural skills.

"The fact that German majors – who also study engineering or music – have received these prestigious awards shows that Valpo is doing a wonderful job of integrating liberal education with professional education," Dr. DeMaris said. "This future engineer and future church musician will be capable professionals who are also linguistically and culturally fluent in German. We speak readily and sometimes superficially about globalization; Erin and Emily will live it, personally and professionally."

DAAD is Germany's national agency for the support of international academic cooperation and provides programs and funding for students, faculty and researchers.

The Undergraduate Scholarship program supports students who are studying, completing internships or performing thesis research in Germany for up to 10 months. Students receive a monthly stipend plus additional funds to defray travel and research expenses, as well as health insurance.

More information about global learning at Valpo, including international programs in several fields of study, study abroad programs, international service programs and cultural immersion opportunities on campus, is available on the Global Valpo Web site. In 2008, Valpo won the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, recognizing it as a model for other institutions of higher education in preparing graduates with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness.