Success does not happen by accident, said Christ Zola, a recent graduate of 91“óÉńā€™s Intensive English Program (IEP).

ā€œBehind every achievement, there are often sacrifices that people never see,ā€ he told a crowd of families, friends, students, and supporters gathered at Martin Chapel for IEPā€™s graduation ceremony on Wednesday. ā€œThere were times when I cried and asked myself, ā€˜Was all this really necessary?ā€™ There were other times when I struggled to keep my eyes open in class because I hadnā€™t slept the night before.ā€

ā€œBut today, I stand before you as proof that perseverance works,ā€ he continued. ā€œKeep believing, keep working, and keep moving forward. Never give up, because your breakthrough may be closer than you think.ā€

Zola was one of 15 graduates from the IEPā€™s spring and summer 2026 semesters recognized at the ceremony last week.

The IEP helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, the program has 60 to 80 students representing 15 to 20 different countries.

Graduates of 91“óÉńā€™s Intensive English Program share their perspectives at last weekā€™s ceremony.

The graduates received certificates of completion and stoles bearing the flags of their home country. Many shared perspectives from their time in the program, expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement they received from family members, friends, classmates, and teachers, and reflected on how the skills they acquired will serve them throughout their lives.

Sahar Malkzai, a spring IEP graduate, described the happiness she felt having completed the program. ā€œThis is my first achievement that I got in the United States,ā€ she said.

ā€œYou didnā€™t just teach us English,ā€ she told her teachers. ā€œYou gave us confidence and motivation. Your education has truly changed our lives, and I will always be grateful for everything you have done for us.ā€

Ezatullah Yousofzai, a summer IEP graduate, thanked his teachers for their support, patience, and guidance, and for believing in him and his classmates throughout their journey. ā€œAs we graduate today, let us remember that every lesson, every challenge, and every teacher has helped shape who we are,ā€ he said.

Another summer graduate of the program, Mohammad Anway, said he can now understand English well, speak it fluently, and read and write it with confidence. ā€œWe are sure this great achievement will have a positive impact on our future careers,ā€ he said.

IEP Office Coordinator Kris Long drapes a stole over a graduateā€™s shoulders.

LEFT: Jeremy Samsoe, director of the IEP, presents a certificate of completion to a graduate. RIGHT: Graduates pose for a photo following the ceremony.

Jeremy Samsoe, director of the IEP, remarked that this was the most graduates the program had ever honored at a single ceremony. ā€œWeā€™ve never had a stage quite so full before,ā€ he said. ā€œThis is wonderful.ā€

As he projected images of Ellis Island and his great-grandfather, Nicholas Samsoe, who immigrated to the United States from Germany by boat, he spoke about how similar Nicholas’ life was to those of many students in the IEP.

ā€œHe came to this country and had to start over a lot of his life,ā€ Samsoe said. ā€œHe spoke a language other than English, he spoke German, and his life as a child was very, very different from the life of his own children.ā€

ā€œI want to remind you that what you do and who you are as an individual will be remembered by your children, by your grandchildren, and by your nieces and nephews,ā€ he told the graduates. ā€œAnd your life will influence and shape the lives of even your great-grandchildren or great-nieces and nephews who may never meet you.ā€

Fifteen graduates of 91“óÉńā€™s Intensive English Program were recognized at Wednesdayā€™s ceremony.

LEFT: Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, offers her remarks to the graduates. RIGHT: A celebratory potluck meal was held after the graduation ceremony.

Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, encouraged the graduates to continue learning, asking questions, and building bridges wherever they go. ā€œThis is not the end,ā€ she said. ā€œThis is the start of something new, something great, and something beautiful.ā€

91“óÉń has three core values: academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith. ā€œAnd each of you represents those three core values in distinct and unique ways,ā€ Willingham said. ā€œIt is because of your desire not just to learn a new language, not just to create more opportunities for your families, but also to make a difference in your life and in your community that you are a demonstration of who we are at 91“óÉń at our core.ā€

For more information about 91“óÉńā€™s Intensive English Program, visit emu.edu/iep.

Hudson Acocella, a Political Science major

Ciela Acosta, a Peacebuilding & Development major

Peyton Alger, an English major

Muna Alsadun, a Social Work major

Johana Alvarenga, a Liberal Arts major

Ephrata Amare, a Biology major

Theo Andreas, a Nursing major

Meredith Atkinson, a Political Science and Psychology major

Wendy Avila Peralta, a Nursing major

Silas Bates, a Psychology major

Malia Bauman, a Social Work major

Leah Beachy, a Nursing major

Kayden Beidler, an English and Applied Mathematics major

Miranda Beidler, an English and Secondary Education Licensure (6ā€“12) major

Renae Benner, an Engineering major

Terranie Bennett, a Writing Studies major

Leah Blough, an Accounting major

Karina Bondaruk, a Biochemistry major

Madison Bowyer, a Nursing major

Lincoln Brechbill, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Jasmine Bruce, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6) major

Noah Buckwalter, a Biology and Environmental Science major

Daisy Buller, an Art major

Leah Cap, a Political Science major

Paulina CĆ”rcamo Nufio, a Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies and Education Licensure (PreKā€“12) major

Mara Carlson, a Psychology major

Seungmin Cha, a Chemistry major

Joel Chamberlain, a Sociology and Environmental Science major

Camden Clapper, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Sebastian Clemente, a Psychology major

Jaydyn Clemmer, a Nursing major

Zoe Clymer, a Biology major

Cristina ColĆ³n Torres, a Psychology major

Chase Comer, a Political Science and History major

Rebekah Copeland, a Computer Science major

Ashley Cromer, a Nursing major

Kaitlyn Cunningham, a Psychology major

Logan Darrow, a Biology major

Ace Davis, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Ruach Deng, a Computer Science major

Lexie Dingus, a Nursing major

Emily Donovan, a Biology major

Levi Dougherty, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Jacob Dwyer, a History & Social Science and Secondary Education Licensure (6ā€“12) major

Monica Ehrenfels, a Music major

Odesa Elezi, a Nursing major

Matt Elijah, a Recreation and Sport Management major

Benjamin Elliott, a Political Science and Peacebuilding major

Julia Fisher, an Art and Education Licensure (PreKā€“12) major

Abby Foltz, a Nursing major

Addison Fornadel, a Nursing major

Leah Frankenfield, a Psychology major

Benjamin Friesen Guhr, an Engineering major

Lily Gatesman, a Psychology major

Marta Gebretsadik, a Nursing major

Jassel Gomez Bonilla, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Ellysa Gray, a Nursing major

Juliana Greaver, a Nursing major

Emma Greer, a Marketing major

Carter Griffin, a Business Administration and Recreation and Sport Management major

Emily Guin, a Nursing major

Sitara Hackney, a History & Social Science and Secondary Education Licensure (6ā€“12) major

Madelynn Hamm, an Environmental Science major

Josh Haponski, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Glenn Harder, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Abbey Harper, a Nursing major

Keegan Harrison, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Ryan Harrison, a Political Science major

Bridget Hay, a Psychology major

Willem Hedrick, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design major

Justin Hochstedler, an Accounting and Business Administration major

Gabe Hollenbacher, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Elie Hoover, a Social Work and Music major

Mason Hunter, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Claire Hurst, a Biology major

Shawna Hurst, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6) major

Aspen Jones, a Psychology major

Braxten Jones, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6) major

Josh Joseph, a Recreation and Sport Management major

Zainab Kamran, a Computer Science major

Apekshya Karki, a Medical Lab Science major

Lauren Kauffman, a Psychology major

Sophia Kauffman, a Psychology major

Sara Kennel, a Global Development major

Esme King Martin, an Environmental Science and Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies major

Emae Klompenhouwer, a Social Work major

Jazi Knight, a Nursing major

Ani Koontz, a Biology major

Naomi Kratzer, a Music and History major

Gisele Kuate Mogouong, an Accounting and Business Administration major

Sophia Lacher, a Liberal Arts, Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6), and Special Education General Curriculum (Kā€“6) major

Maggie Ladd, a Social Work major

Ella Lambert, a Nursing major

Reina Landa, a Nursing major

Joy Lee, a Nursing major

Camryn Lohr, a Nursing major

Erin Loker, a Psychology major

Zeke Longacre, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Maria Longenecker, a Biology major

Brittany Love, a Psychology major

Caris Lucas, a Nursing major

Summer Lucas, a Nursing major

Reya Marron, a Nursing major

Brooke Martin, a Leadership and Organizational Management major

Olivia Martin, a Nursing major

Rosa Martin Fonseca, a Biology major

Micah Mast, an Engineering major

Kiyah Mata, a Psychology major

Caleb Metzler, a Political Science, Sociology, and Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies major

Eli Miller, an Environmental Science major

Hollyn Miller, a Psychology major

Isaac Miller, a Biology major

Sarah Miller, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Diego Morales Torres, a Computer Science major

Leilani Muniz, a Liberal Arts major

Samuel Myers, an Environmental Science major

Judith Nandikove, a Theology and Religion and Peacebuilding & Development major

Ethan Neufeld, a Biology and Biochemistry major

Sophia Nguyen, a Biology major

Ashutosh Niraula, a Computer Science major

Jenna Oostland, an Environmental Science major

Owen Osterberg, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Seth Ours, a Psychology major

Eden Owings, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Livy Pagano, a Psychology major

Leah Palmieri, a Nursing major

Katie Parks, a Liberal Arts, Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6), and Special Education General Curriculum (Kā€“6) major

Sarah Peak, a Psychology and Peacebuilding major

Zachary Perry, an Applied Mathematics major

Ezra Peters, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Sarah Poirot, a Nursing major

Bryce Poppe, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Jocelyn Portillo-Romero, a Biology and Secondary Education Licensure (6ā€“12) major

Sarah Prroj, a Business Administration major

Adam Rhodes, an Environmental Science and Peacebuilding major

Miriam Rhodes, a Music, Liberal Arts, and Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6) major

Ella Richer, an Environmental Science major

Oliver Rivera, a Psychology major

Kyla Ross, a Psychology major

Jasmin Ruiz, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design major

Gabriella Seal, a Nursing major

Roumany Sefin, a Business Administration and Medical Lab Science major

Addison Shanholtz, a Nursing major

Dulce Shenk Zeager, a Biology major

Emma Shepard, a Nursing major

Josiah Shimp, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Marianne Short, a Nursing major

Rose Short, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreKā€“6) major

Ava Sitko, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Ari Smart, an Art and Education Licensure (PreKā€“12) major

Megan Smith, a Nursing major

Brooke Snyder, a Writing Studies major

Elijah Spicher, a Nursing major

April Stafford, a Nursing major

Keriana Stottlemyer, a Nursing major

Amelia Stuckey, a Biology and Environmental Science major

Simon Stuckey, an Engineering major

Joshua Stucky, a Nursing major

Kate Stutzman, a Biology major

Levi Stutzman, an Engineering major

Emily Suarez Nunez, a Nursing major

Kristina Suslaev, a Nursing major

Jazmyn Taylor, a Business Administration major

Kenzie Taylor, a Digital Media and Communication major

Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez, an Accounting and Business Administration major

Michelle Thompson, a Nursing major

Lauren Townsend, a Recreation and Sport Management and Organizational Leadership major

Collin Troutman, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Cassidy Turpen, a Psychology major

Christopher Varone, a Psychology major

Delaney Via, a Nursing major

Aniyah Walker, a Business Administration and Marketing major

Ava Walker, a Psychology major

Jadyn Weik, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Micah Wenger, a Music major

Reuben Wenger, a Biochemistry and Peacebuilding major

Yuji Wenger, a Biology major

Julia Williams, a Nursing major

Will Wolf, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Amanda Yoder, a Nursing major

Bryn Yoder, a Nursing major

Elliott Yoder, a Public Health major

Malia Yoder, a Biology major

Noah Yoder, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design major

Sam Yoder, a Nursing major

Bethelhem Zelalem, a Nursing major

Matthew Zerbe, a Leadership and Organizational Management Aviation major

Lisa Zimmerman, an Environmental Science and Biology major

Mara Zimmerman, an Environmental Science and Biology major