The Spanish and Hispanic Studies program prepares you to communicate effectively in Spanish; to understand the cultural perspectives, products, and practices of the Spanish-speaking world; and to act with intercultural competence. At all course levels, students engage in active learning through proficiency-based instruction.
Your Spanish language skills will not only boost your resume, they also can fulfill a growing need across many U.S. economic sectors. From agriculture to education to medicine, interpreters and translators are in increased demand. Spanish is an excellent co-major or minor with degrees in the sciences and business, especially if you’re interested in marketing and trade. Spanish is the language of 19 countries in Latin America, which are growing export-import markets for U.S. products.
A rich tapestry of cultures, arts, history, and Spanish language instruction at all levels combine to enable students to thrive in an increasingly multicultural world. Enhanced with experiential learning, study abroad, and immersion opportunities, our students graduate with the skills sought after by employers.
Join us in celebrating the Class of 2022 Spanish and Hispanic Studies degree candidates!
2022 Spanish Majors and Minors
Ray Flannery, a senior from Hinckley, OH, has been named the recipient of the 2022 Corrigan Award for Outstanding Spanish Major. Ray is a double major in Spanish & Hispanic Studies and Sociology/Criminology. He also has minors in Population and Public Health and Leadership Development. Upon graduation he will obtain his Master of Public Health at the University of Maryland and work there in the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
The Pi Lambda Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honor Society, admitted 12 John Carroll students as its newest members. To be eligible, students must meet national standards, including GPA and enrollment in upper level Spanish language courses.
Please join us in congratulating the 2021 inductees:
Selena Alamir ‘24
Veronica Barranca ‘23
Elyse Belak ‘22
Addison Blakeney ‘22
Alexandra Capps ‘23
Gillian Dralle ‘22
Zak Ferguson ‘24
Piper Foellmer ‘23
Kyra Jancik ‘23
Caroline Kuczek ‘22
Catherine Maas ‘23
Alexis Shabazz ‘2
Anne-Cecilia Byrne graduated with a double major in Spanish and Political Science.
After graduation, Anne-Cecilia became the 2021 Communications Chair for the Georgetown Women in International Affairs (GWIA) organization and the Vice President of the Latin American Foreign Affairs Association (LAFAA). She recently won the 2021-2022 Outstanding Leader in a Graduate Student Organization Award, which recognizes a Georgetown University graduate student who has made outstanding contributions to the campus community by their leadership, programming endeavors, individual skills, volunteer activities, service and attitude in support of student activities as a member or leader of a group.
Anne-Cecilia will receive her M.A. in Latin American Studies in May 2022.
In Dr. Thornton's SP 308 class, students had the opportunity to test their language and cooking skills by creating instructional videos on how to cook their favorite Hispanic dish! You can watch some of their videos here:
Larry Cersosimo--Ajiaco colombiano
Claire McGilley ’21, a double major in Political Science and Spanish and Hispanic Studies, has been named the recipient of the 2021 Robert Corrigan Award in Spanish. The award, named in honor of Robert Corrigan, who taught Spanish at John Carroll University from 1949 to 1987, designates outstanding achievement in Spanish by a graduating senior.
McGilley has also been named a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant finalist.
She is currently employed by an international development firm, working on an international education, school-based violence prevention project as a contractor for the US government. She will be relocating to Honduras with this organization at the end of May. McGilley served as a full-time intern at the U.S. Embassy in Honduras during the Fall 2019 semester.
Join us in celebrating the Class of 2021 Spanish and Hispanic Studies degree candidates!
The Pi Lambda chapter of the Spanish National Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi, has inducted 20 John Carroll students as its newest members. To be eligible, students must have completed three years of study of college-level Spanish or the equivalent thereof, including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or civilization/culture at the 300-level, must have completed at least three semesters of college work, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 with a GPA of 3.0 in all Spanish courses taken.
Please join us in congratulating the 2021 inductees:
Allison Lampert
Amalie Kugajevsky
Caitlin Drake
David Prots
Elizabeth Cockerham
Emily Fagan-Zirm
Emma Medwid
Hannah Newsome
Isaac Palinkas
Jack Burton
Joslyn Sobek
Julia Davis
Kathryn O'Malley
Kristyna Nosek
Lucy Peloso
Katelin Lauren Avenir
Michael Moceri
Olivia Donadee
Raymond Flannery
Sarah Teckmyer
Lucy Peloso is the recipient of John Carroll University’s Class of 2021 Beaudry Award, given annually to a graduating senior that exemplifies the following values of a Jesuit education:
Peloso is a Biology major with minors in Chemistry and Spanish. She was a recipient of the Outstanding Student Leader Award in 2020 and has held several positions of leadership throughout her time on campus, including her roles as a Resident Assistant (RA), Immersion Intern, and through attendance to the National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference in Detroit during the summer of 2019.
Lucy has put her language learning skills to practical use over the past four years. She engaged in ESL classes during an immersion experience to Louisville, KY, and did service with Esperanza where we taught ESL classes to adult Spanish-speakers as part of Dr. Megan Thornton's Migrant Voices course. She has also volunteered with a summer school program at her home parish, Saint Anthony/All Saints in Canton, OH where she helped Spanish-speaking children prepare for kindergarten.
“I am deeply thankful to receive this award and to be a part of a community that inspires me to live out my mission here and beyond,” said Peloso. “My greatest joy has been through all of the incredible people and experiences that have shaped my time at John Carroll and the ways that I have been blessed to reflect on this. I am continually inspired and humbled by the dedication, resilience, and love of our community.”
Lucy has been selected to the Dean's List every semester, and she is an active member of the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu.
Founded in 1951, the Beaudry Award is the only award given out at John Carroll’s annual commencement ceremony. Recipients selected for the award are voted on by graduating seniors. Learn more about Lucy and the Beaudry Award here.
Vincenzo Giovannitti, a senior from Venetia, PA, has been named the recipient of the 2020 Corrigan Award for Outstanding Spanish Major. Vinnie, whose minors are Chemistry and Leadership Development, plans to attend dental school in the fall. Join us in celebrating Vinnie!
2020's graduating class of Spanish & Hispanic Studies majors and minors are accomplished leaders, enthusiastic volunteers, and dedicated students. Their diverse experiences at JCU have prepared them to confidently meet careers and academic pursuits in a multicultural world. Please join us in celebrating the Class of 2020.
Students in Dr. Thornton's SP 329 Migrant Voices class experience culture and community through weekly service learning activities at Esperanza, Inc. in Cleveland.