President Thomas R. Plough poses with Malia Willey (left) and Leanne Walsh on Commencement Day 2004.

Class of 2004 Boasts Two Fulbright Scholars

Two members of Assumption’s Class of 2004 will soon add the title of Fulbright Scholar to their growing list of achievements. Leanne Walsh of Tewksbury, MA, and Malia Willey of Eliot, ME, have both received this prestigious postgraduate honor. They will be traveling to Asia for the unique opportunity to teach and study, while experiencing the exotic cultures of the East.

During the 2004-2005 academic year, Walsh will be teaching English in Taiwan’s I-Lan County. As one of only nine students in her program, she will work alongside a teacher to create materials that will be used in the classroom of her designated elementary-school grade level. She will undergo a month of training before she begins her classroom experience. In addition, she has designed a teaching supplementary project that she may also undertake while in Taiwan. The project is the study of second language acquisition through music, while comparing children receiving special education to children receiving standard education.

Walsh graduated magna cum laude on May 15, 2004 with a degree in Classics. While an undergraduate, she was heavily involved in campus activities. She served as a resident assistant, president of the Classics Club, a staff member of the Heights yearbook, and a member of Eta Sigma Phi, the Classics honor society. She also volunteered her time to Campus Ministry. A music enthusiast, she was part of the Chapel Choir, the campus band, and the campus theatre productions Godspell and Guys and Dolls. She received an academic achievement award in Classics at Assumption College’s annual Honors Convocation in April 2004.

“The community I found here at Assumption College, whether it’s through Campus Ministry, the people I’ve met here as an RA, or any other venue on campus has always been wonderful. I’m very happy here,” she said.

Willey, a summa cum laude graduate, will be teaching English conversation in South Korea. Although she calls Maine home, she was born in Hawaii. She has always wanted to visit Asia, partly on account of her early exposure to Asian culture while living in Hawaii. Willey will be a teacher’s assistant to 30 or 40 students at either the middle school or high school age level, while living with a family in South Korea. Her supplementary research project relates to Korean adolescent students’ access to reading material, and how written works in English might affect their perceptions of Americans.

At Assumption, Willey, an English and History double major, has made her mark as a member of the English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta; the leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa; and the History honor society, Phi Alpha Theta, for which she also served as Historian. She was also the assistant editor-in-chief of the Heights yearbook, and a member of Students Advocating Change, an on-campus club that strives to increase social awareness. Willey received academic achievement awards in English and History at Assumption College’s annual Honors Convocation in April 2004.

Willey holds Assumption in high esteem for its “different opportunities, academically and socially.” She named John McClymer of the History department as her favorite professor for his ability to spark her interest in all kinds of history, even in locations as nearby as Worcester itself.

Both Walsh and Willey anticipate the challenge of living in a foreign country without comprehensive knowledge of its language, but they are eager to embark on their journeys. Though they acknowledge that they might have the opportunity to stay on for another year in their respective countries, both have plans to attend graduate school when they return to the United States. Walsh plans to become a teacher of either Elementary Education or Special Education while Willey is interested in pursuing an advanced degree in History or Library Science.