Meet our Graduating Seniors
Dear Class of 2022,
On behalf of the Department of Classics and Modern Languages, I am delighted to congratulate you on your many and diverse accomplishments. We are proud to have majors and minors who pursue complementary courses of study in all four of Xavier’s Colleges. Indeed, it is a testament to the pervasive value of linguistic and cultural knowledge that U.S. students pursuing a B.A. in a language double major at a higher rate than nearly any other group. That the rate of double majors at Xavier exceeds those national averages by over 30% speaks to our special mission as a Jesuit University founded in the liberal arts tradition. As passionate humanists and life-long students of language and culture, we welcome you into a community of graduates, and look to you to use your knowledge for the continued good of our society, as men and women for others. It is my privilege to wish you well in all of your coming endeavors.
Sincerely,
Jamie H. Trnka
Prof. of German and Chair of Classics and Modern Languages
Meet Our 2022 Graduates
Classics
Matthew Blain
Tim Ganshirt
John Paul Mastandrea
Nick Minion
Aaron Ticknor
French
Majors
Madi Crickmer
Noor El-Ansary
Hunter Ellis
Paige Lumpkin
Ava Poindexter
Rachel Purpura
Minors
Callahan Dominé
Sarah Soczka
Keyan Skelton
Awards
Madi Crickmer
My name is Madi Crickmer and I am graduating with a double major in French and Francophone Studies and International Studies with a concentration in International Business. I studied abroad in Lyon, France during the Spring of 2021. After graduation, I will be taking a gap year to spend time traveling before starting law school. I am extremely grateful for my experiences at Xavier and all the guidance my professors have given me.
Noor El-Ansary
My name is Noor El-Ansary and I am graduating with a triple major in Philosophy, Politics, and the Public, International Studies, and French and Francophone Studies. I have enjoyed every minute of my four years and have grown tremendously with encouragement from friends, family, and faculty (I definitely wouldn’t have three majors if it wasn’t for them believing in me!). I studied abroad in Senegal, which really shaped my understanding of international development and education, leading me to continue my education at Xavier (!) through the Montessori Education Master’s program.
Paige Lumpkin
Xavier University Class of 2022
Chemical Sciences and French Francophone Studies Double Major
My name is Paige Lumpkin and I am graduating Xavier University in the Class of 2022 with a B.S. in Chemical Sciences and a B.A. in French Francophone studies. It has been a journey to say the least and I am so appreciative of my professors, guidance counselors, and mentors who have helped me get to where I am today. I finished my last semester abroad in Paris, France and it was/still is an incredible experience.
When I come back to the states, I plan to move to Columbus, OH and work in a food laboratory there. I also plan to start school again in training for Christian Ministries and receive another Bachelor's diploma at the International College of Christian Ministries. I plan to one day help lead a church somewhere in the world.
I am super excited to see what the future holds for me, and where I will be led next!
Ava Poindexter
My name is Ava Poindexter and I am graduating from Xavier (C/O 2022) with a double major in International Studies with a Europe concentration and French/Francophone Studies. I am very grateful for the experiences I have had during my time at Xavier made possible by the French department, especially my study abroad year in Paris and the completion of my senior thesis. After graduation, I am going back to the Paris region for seven months to work teaching English with the TAPIF program.
Rachel Purpura
My name is Rachel Purpura and I will be graduating with a double major in French and Francophone Studies and History. I studied abroad in Grenoble, France and Cork, Ireland and had two very different, but amazing, experiences. After graduation, I will be continuing my education by attending the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland to gain a masters in Medieval Studies. I am very thankful for my time at Xavier and especially the relationships I was able to develop with professors who have helped me get to where I am now.
Keyan Skelton
My name is Keyan Skelton, I am graduating with a major in International Business with a double minor in French and Political economy. French has helped expand my opportunities to work globally in the future as it helped me land a job as an Associate Banker with Chase in Cincinnati. In the future I hope to expand my opportunities further into a more global based role as I am in the process of applying for a market analyst position with JP Morgan in Paris, France. I am grateful for all I have learned at Xavier and I am excited to see what opportunities the future holds.
Sarah Soczka
My name is Sarah Soczka. I'm graduating with a major in Digital Innovation, Film & Television and minors in French & Francophone Studies, and Gender & Diversity Studies. I have had some amazing opportunities while attending Xavier University such as interning at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the College Movie Festival with my film "The Powder Room," as well as working on professional sets in the Cincinnati area. After graduation I will be freelancing as a Production Assistant in the Cincinnati area. However, my long term goal is to work in comedy (sketch/TV/Film) as a director/producer.
Carson Rayhill
Carson Rayhill is a first-generation student from Loogootee, Indiana. He graduated from Loogootee High School in 2018 after participating in the U.S. Department of State's Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program at the Karl-Friedrich-Schinkel Gymnasium in Neuruppin, Germany from 2016-2017.
At Xavier, Carson was the President of Students for Life and was an active member of the Smith Scholar Program. He worked as a community service work-study student at Woven Oak Initiatives where he helped establish Baby Bear, a program that provides parents of Norwood children under five parenting resources, Kindergarten Prep resources, and community meals. He also held internships with the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See and the U.S. Department of Energy. Carson graduated from Xavier, Magna Cum Laude, with a B.S.B.A in Finance and a B.A in German with minors in Peace Studies and Political Economy.
Carson will continue his education, pursuing a master's degree at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC. He is thankful for all his friends, family, and professors that made his academic career at Xavier possible.
Julie Bilcheck
My name is Julie Bilcheck and I am graduating Xavier with a B.A. in Spanish with minors in Secondary Education and Special Education. I am very grateful for the wonderful experiences I have had at Xavier University. I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and stayed with a host family during the Spring of 2020. I attended classes at the University of Rey Juan Carlos and had an amazing experience. I also had the opportunity to do community service at a soup kitchen in Madrid every week. After graduation, I plan to teach Elementary Spanish Immersion at Baltimore County Public Schools. I am looking forward to this new chapter of my life and I am very grateful to have become a member of the Xavier Alumni. Go X!!
Kristian Byrd
Before going to grad school for counseling, I'm going to be spending some time working on gaining experience working with people within the field of corrections, so I'll be starting a new job this month but I'm also being trained in pet grooming right now.
Ali Hausfeld
Megan Jeffers
My plans after graduation as of right now are to stay in Cincinnati and to continue working as a daycare teacher and medical interpreter.
Meghan Murphy
Following graduation, I am excited to announce that I accepted a RN position in the Neuroscience ICU at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
David Pachota
I'm planning on working as a Language Assistant in Spain through NALCAP if I don't get a job offer first. I've been job hunting but no luck yet, so the language assistance program is my back up plan.
Fiona Rowan
I will be working in a lab at UC after graduation.
Maggie Ryan
I am getting my MA in International Relations at King’s College London starting in September.
Maggie Truitt
I have accepted a position in Nashville with Cahaba Wealth Management as a financial analyst.
Kierston Whitlock
After graduation, I will be attending graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis to obtain a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. It is my ultimate goal to have my own practice as an occupational therapist in which I can work with Latinx clients who face a language barrier in healthcare systems.
2022 Award Winners
- Joseph E. Bourgeois German Award - Peyton Beck
- Clement H. Luken Sr. Award – Audrey Linton
- Joseph and Jeanne Bourgeois French Award - Noor El-Ansary
- Matias Vega Spanish Award – Megan Jeffers
- Matias Vega Spanish Award – Margaret Truitt
- John M. Zahurancik Award – Matthew Blain
- Alice D. Ragland Latin Award - Aaron Ticknor
- Joseph A. Verkamp Greek Award – Matthew Blain
- Classical Association of the Middle, West, and South Award – John Paul Mastandrea