International Ambassadors

International Ambassador Profiles

Within our ESL Institute, we have International Ambassadors that want to help ESL students adjust to university life both socially and academically.  We would like you to have the opportunity to meet some of them.  You never know, one of them may become your Ambassador!

Name: Kayla Ludwigson

Hometown:  Alma, Wisconsin

Year at UIU: Senior

Major: Double major in psychology and human services with a minor in sociology

Goal in Life: To be truly happy J

Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.): After three years of working in ESL, it is difficult to pick just one favorite memory. However, one that is definitely at the top of the list would have to be from my birthday when some of the ESL students got me birthday cookies and had handmade me a big birthday poster. It was so sweet of them to do that!

Favorite Food: Stromboli (actually, anything Italian!)

Favorite Past-Time: Reading, baking, and watching scary movies

Number one country you would like to visit and why: I would love to visit Norway most of all because that is where most of my ancestors were from. However, going anywhere in South or Central America would be amazing as well!

Your best advice to an International Student learning English: Make sure to take advantage of as many opportunities as you can! Even if it seems uncomfortable at the time, it will make learning English (and making friends) that much easier.

Favorite Quote: To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don’t worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest.

Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU: The best thing about working as an International Ambassador, for me, is getting to see the growth the students experience, both personally and linguistically, throughout the year.

Name: Joshua Beebe

Hometown: Independence, Iowa

Year at UIU: Will be a Senior in the Fall. Graduating in December

Major: Business Management

Goal in Life: Show God’s glory by doing my best at everything I do.

Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.): Going on field trips with the students.

Favorite Food: Italian Food

Favorite Past-Time: Spending time with friends.

Number one country you would like to visit and why: I will be going to Tanzania this Summer for a mission trip. I would like to visit South Korea someday to learn about their culture.

Your best advice to an International Student learning English: Don’t be afraid to make friends with native English speakers. You will learn so much about the American culture and it will help you improve your conversation skills.

Favorite Quote: "I thank God I was warring on the gridirons of the Midwest and not on the battlefields of Europe. I can speak confidently and positively that the players of this country would much more, much rather, struggle and fight to win the Heisman award than the Croix de Guerre." -Nile Kinnick (University of Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner)

Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU: The best thing about being an International Ambassador at UIU is learning about the students’ cultures while helping them learn a skill that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives.

Name: Nikki Boggs

Hometown:  De Soto, Wisconsin

Year at UIU: Senior

Major: Art

Goal in Life: To see the world and live happily.

Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.): Having girl nights with my group members and playing Apples to Apples in the ESL Zone.

Favorite Food: Pepperoni and cheese calzones

Favorite Past-Time:  Creating art.

Number one country you would like to visit and why:  Europe because I would like to trace my ancestral roots and see all of the historical architecture and museums.

Your best advice to an International Student learning English: Do not be afraid to make mistakes, especially when you are talking with your instructors or ambassadors. We’re here to help you, we want you to succeed, and we love speaking with you.

Favorite Quote: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss

Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU: Building relationships and learning about other cultures.

Name: Kris Whitsell

Hometown: Grundy Center, Iowa

Year at UIU: Senior

Major: English, Communications minor

Goal in Life: To love my chosen career, become a wife and mom, and live for a purpose beyond myself

Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.): Getting to see the students’ first live experience with American hockey at the Waterloo Blackhawks game

Favorite Food: Spaghetti

Favorite Past-Time: Discovering new places on weekend mini-road trips

Number one country you would like to visit and why: Anywhere in Western Europe to take in all the sights and scenery and because so many people who’ve been there have told me, “You just have to see it for yourself!”

Your best advice to an International Student learning English: Practice your English skills whenever you can, even when communicating with fellow native language speakers; Make it a goal to “think in English” as well – this will help grasping concepts you already know (but now expressed in a foreign language) go much smoother

Favorite Quote: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot

Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU: Seeing the students excited to learn and apply English and having the drive to excel in their language mastery; Seeing their faces light up when something “clicks” in their mind is so encouraging, too