Meet the Eight Language Students Awarded $10,000 in Scholarships

Students prepare for careers in translation, counseling psychology, medicine, linguistics and microbiology informed by language studies and study abroad.

By Lauren Hargrave 

Each year, the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SLLC) awards scholarships to students studying a second language. Winners are selected by a committee of SLLC faculty based on an application consisting of an essay and a letter of recommendation. This year, SLLC selected eight exemplary students to receive $10,000 in scholarships. Meet this year’s winners:

Keon Abasi ’27 

Scholarship: Bartsch-Dunne

“At UMD, there are plenty of unique opportunities available outside of the classroom to improve one’s language skills, such as immersive experiences on campus like the Language House living-learning program and a whole host of exciting cultural events held by different student-led language organizations!” - Abasi

Abasi is a freshman majoring in public health science on the pre-medicine track. He is also a part of the Language House living-learning program and Persian cluster. In addition to his extracurricular activities, he is a part of the Molecular Diagnostics research lab stream in the First Year Innovation and Research program. In his free time, he plays soccer and the piano. 

Danielle Martin ’26

Scholarship: Language Fund

“I sometimes hear people say they’re worried about not being a native speaker, or that they’re not “good enough” to succeed—the same exact way I first felt. But it’s not about being the best: it’s about what drives you to learn in the first place.” - Martin

Martin is a sophomore double majoring in Spanish and physiology and neurobiology in the Integrated Life Sciences program. She enjoys music, language learning and all things biology. Her goal before graduation is to study abroad for a semester.

Finn McGhee ’24 

Scholarship: Choudhury

“Scientists must be creative and innovative, and majoring in French has pushed me to think in new ways. Studying French has also taught me to communicate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs, improving my ability to collaborate with an international population and to work in teams, which are essential skills in science.” - McGhee

McGhee is a senior in their last semester of earning a double degree in microbiology and French language and literature. They are currently studying abroad in Nice, France, as part of the Maryland-in-Nice program. After graduation, McGhee hopes to pursue a graduate education in microbiology, possibly in France.

Nohah-Chase Porcher ’25 

Scholarship: Bartsch-Dunne

“Foreign language acquisition redefines the way that we conceptualize our linguistic competence. This places the power of words at our disposal, wielding rhetoric to render our communication more poignant and empowering us to become great orators.” - Porcher

Porcher is a junior pursuing a double major in Arabic studies and French language and literature. His passion is language and culture studies. He aspires to become a polyglot and linguist in the future.

Melody Simmons ’25 

Scholarship: Hirsch

“New worlds of thinking and ways of perceiving people and the human experience are things I’ve gained by majoring in French, and I wouldn’t trade this knowledge for anything.” - Simmons

Simmons is a fourth-year student double majoring in French language and chemical engineering. She is passionate about better understanding the world through people and processes. Her coursework in the French department has increased her mastery and fascination with other languages and cultures. Simmons is looking forward to seeing where French takes her in the future, and is excited for professional opportunities where she can put her language skills to the test.

Nauzli Tajaddini ’25 

Scholarship: Magruder

“You may regret not continuing with a language, because not only did my passion grow for Spanish, but I’m preparing myself for a successful career." - Tajaddini

Tajaddini is a junior double majoring in psychology and Spanish. Learning Spanish has been one of the best decisions that she has made, as she wants to be a counseling psychologist and help as many people as she can. Learning a language has opened many doors for her and she is excited to see how she can use Spanish to help make the world a better place.

Landon Townsend ’27 

Scholarship: Bartsch-Dunne

"For indeed, such a passion of language is ever disappearing in the hearts of pupils despite language being a means by which new worlds can be opened and opportunities created. Tread upon the path of language and remain steadfast upon it in a world where it’s ever overlooked." - Townsend

Townsend is a first-year student double majoring in Arabic studies and government and politics with a concentration in international relations. He has maintained a bolstering passion for international relations and language, particularly the Arabic language. He is a member of SLLC’s Arabic Flagship Program and is a Language House resident. He speaks French, Spanish and is currently learning Urdu. He spends his free time reading frequent topics including Islamic history, Islamic jurisprudence and political theory.

Robert Gabriel Waggoner ’26 

Scholarship: Hirsch

“Part of being a well-informed citizen is having a broad worldview, and that has to include understanding where all people—in this or any other country, or who speak any language—are coming from. Take the leap with languages and see where you land.” - Waggoner

Waggoner is a science editor majoring in French with the hope of pursuing a career in translation. He takes an interest in grammar, usage and typography, especially while studying French.