The graduates, Alberto Mederos and Jany Carballo, completed Level 6, the highest level of classes offered at IEP. They received graduation certificates and stoles emblazoned with the flags of both their home country, Cuba, and the United States, along with hugs from their instructors. Each of the two graduates spoke during the ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in 91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s Roselawn Building.

Mederos thanked his teachers for boosting his confidence, pushing him forward, and never letting him give up.

“Thank you so much for preparing us for life in this new country, the United States of America, where learning English is a vital necessity,” he said.

He shared a few words of advice for fellow students still in the program. “Never give up and keep pushing,” he said. “With resilience, determination, and effort, you can turn your own dreams into reality.”

Carballo credited her IEP instructors with believing in her, supporting her, and helping her regain motivation and self-confidence.

“This program is the best place to start when you are an immigrant learning a new language,” she said. “You made me feel safe, supported, and as part of the family.”

The path wasn’t easy, she said, with ups and downs and moments when she felt like giving up. But with the IEP’s help, she faced her fears and reached her first goal: building a foundation in English.

“I feel confident knocking on any door and looking for new opportunities,” she said. “Thank you for being my stepping stone to the next level of my life.”

In his address to the graduates, their families and friends, and others gathered for the ceremony, IEP Director Jeremy Samsoe reflected on the idiom “going back to square one.”

“It means to go back to the beginning of something,” he said, and oftentimes, the phrase is associated with some kind of failure. “Maybe you failed at a task, failed at a job, and now you must go back to square one.”

“For many of you here, being in a new country and starting a new life can feel a bit like being at square one—that you are completely starting over,” Samsoe said. “I like to remind students that you are not truly starting at square one. You are starting many new things, but you also bring with you many things: your language, your culture, your expertise.”

“For both of you, Jany and Alberto, this is like moving one more square,” he said. “It’s not the end of your education or your language learning, but it is a step forward. It is an accomplishment, one among many, that you will have in your life.”

The ceremony also included remarks from Harrisonburg Councilman Nasser Alsaadun MA ’17 (education).

The Iraqi-born educator, who came to the United States in 2008, became the first refugee councilmember in the city’s history when he was elected in the fall of 2024. He repeated something he’s often said—that IEP is the best program of its kind from Winchester to Charlottesville—and expressed deep gratitude for its impact on refugees and immigrants in the community.

“It does much more than teach English,” he said. “It opens doors, builds confidence, and creates opportunities.”

Alsaadun said he’s personally witnessed incredible journeys through the program. “I have seen students arrive with little or no English and, through hard work and determination, go on to pursue graduate degrees,” he said. “That kind of growth is inspiring. It shows resilience, talent, and a strong commitment to success.”

91¶ĚĘÓƵ the Intensive English Program

91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s Intensive English Program (IEP) helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, IEP has 60 to 80 students representing 15 to 20 different countries. 

For more info about 91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s Intensive English Program, visit .

Hudson Acocella, a Political Science major from Fairfax, VA

Ciela Acosta, a Peacebuilding & Development major from Salem, OR

Mitsilal Adhanom, a Nursing major from Harrisonburg, VA

Cris Aguirre, a Nursing major from Fishersville, VA

Peyton Alger, an English major from McGaheysville, VA

Jocelyn Allanson, a Biology major from Manassas, VA

Theo Andreas, a Nursing major from Bluffton, OH

Sophia Armato, a Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Manheim, PA

Meredith Atkinson, a Political Science and Psychology major from Mechanicsville, VA

Silas Bates, a Psychology major from Leesburg, VA

Malia Bauman, a Social Work major from Harrisonburg, VA

Mwamini Bayongwa, a Social Work major from Harrisonburg, VA

Leah Beachy, a Nursing major from Salem, OR

Kay Beidler, an English and Applied Mathematics major from Akron, PA

Renae Benner, an Engineering major from Telford, PA

Joelle Blosser, a Health & Physical Education and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Harrisonburg, VA

Leah Blough, an Accounting major from Oklahoma City, OK

Karina Bondaruk, a Biochemistry major from Churchville, VA

Lisa Booth, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Catlett, VA

Madison Bowyer, a Nursing major from Staunton, VA

Nia Boyd, an Art and Writing Studies major from Richmond, VA

Jasmine Bruce, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreK–6) major from Waynesboro, VA

Daisy Buller, an Art and Psychology major from Newton, KS

Mary Cain, a Social Work major from Advance, NC

Paulina Carcamo, a Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Mara Carlson, a Psychology major from Lititz, PA

Joe Carosella, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Lancaster, PA

Courtney Cave, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Maurertown, VA

Travis Cave, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Maurertown, VA

Joel Chamberlain, a Sociology and Environmental Science major from San Jose, Costa Rica

Camden Clapper, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Lancaster, PA

Mickayla Clay, a Criminology major from Woodbridge, VA

Sebastian Clemente, a Psychology major from Parrish, FL

Jaydyn Clemmer, a Nursing major from Fairfield, VA

Zoe Clymer, a Biology major from Collinsville, MS

Cristina Colon Torres, a Psychology major from Toa Alta, PR

Chase Comer, a Political Science and History major from Bridgewater, VA

Rebekah Compagnari, a Nursing major from Rockingham, VA

Rebekah Copeland, a Computer Science major from Harrisonburg, VA

Malachi Cornelius, a Business Administration and Psychology major from Evanston, IL

Kaitlyn Cunningham, a Psychology major from Toms Brook, VA

Kaitlyn Custis, a Nursing major from Chester, VA

Zach Danielczyk, a Business Administration major from Oakton, VA

Logan Darrow, a Biology major from Stafford, VA

Ace Davis, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Yoe, PA

Zazkia De la Vega, a Marketing and Business Administration major from Cusco, Peru

Rafael de Tablan, a Music major from Quezon City, Philippines

Abadit Desta, a Social Work major from Harrisonburg, VA

Nashay Dickson, a Nursing major from Philadelphia, PA

Lexie Dingus, a Nursing major from Broadway, VA

Emily Donovan, a Biology major from Rileyville, VA

Levi Dougherty, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Wrightsville, PA

Jacob Dwyer, a History & Social Science and Secondary Education Licensure (6–12) major from Fairfax, VA

Monica Ehrenfels, a Music major from Cheshire, CT

Matt Elijah, a Recreation and Sport Management major from Fishersville, VA

Benjamin Elliott, a Political Science and Peacebuilding major from Broadway, VA

Genesis Figueroa, a Political Science and Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies major from Millersburg, OH

Julia Fisher, an Art and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Mount Joy, PA

Brock Fittery, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Manheim, PA

Dante Flowe, a Biochemistry major from Harrisonburg, VA

Kaicey Foltz, a Nursing major from Elkton, VA

Benjamin Friesen Guhr, an Engineering major from Newton, KS

Keenan Fulwood, a Psychology major from Stafford, VA

Kevin Garcia Gonzalez, a Biology and Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies major from Harrisonburg, VA

Lily Gatesman, a Psychology major from Timberville, VA

Marta Gebretsadik, a Nursing major from Harrisonburg, VA

Lidiya Gizaw, a Nursing major from Murray, UT

Ellysa Gray, a Nursing major from Stanley, VA

Isaac Greenleaf, a Computer Science, Engineering, and Applied Mathematics major from Elizabethtown, PA

Carter Griffin, a Business Administration and Recreation and Sport Management major from Pitman, NJ

Liliana Guerrero, a Liberal Arts and Early Education Licensure (PreK–3) major from Stafford, VA

Sitara Hackney, a History & Social Science and Secondary Education Licensure (6–12) major from Waynesboro, VA

Dylan Hall, a Health & Physical Education and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Chesapeake, VA

Madelynn Hamm, an Environmental Science major from Newton, KS

Josh Haponski, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Hummelstown, PA

Abbey Harper, a Nursing major from Elkton, VA

Keegan Harrison, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Oxford, PA

Bridget Hay, a Psychology major from Front Royal, VA

Willem Hedrick, a Digital Media and Communication major from Hinton, VA

Justin Hochstedler, an Accounting and Business Administration major from Goshen, IN

Justin Hodgin, a History & Social Science and Secondary Education Licensure (6–12) major from Harrisonburg, VA

Elie Hoover, a Social Work and Music major from New Carlisle, OH

Emma Ruth Hua, a Sociology major from Weyers Cave, VA

Jack Hughes, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Marietta, PA

Alyssa Hunter, a Biology major from Lexington, VA

Claire Hurst, a Public Health and Biology major from Conestoga, PA

Shawna Hurst, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreK–6) major from Broadway, VA

Benjamin Huyard, an Engineering major from Harrisonburg, VA

Beck Jantzi, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design major from Hesston, KS

Emma Johnson, a Recreation and Sport Management major from Burlington, NC

Jam Johnson, a Nursing major from Goode, VA

Aspen Jones, a Psychology major from Elkton, VA

Jayda Jones, a Social Work major from Goodview, VA

Aliza Judd, an Accounting major from Winchester, VA

Zainab Kamran, a Psychology major from Lahore, Pakistan

Ethan Kanagy, a Psychology major from Lancaster, PA

Lauren Kauffman, a Psychology major from Goshen, IN

Sophia Kauffman, a Psychology major from Goshen, IN

Sara Kennel, a Global Development major from Souderton, PA

Hannah Kepler, a Psychology major from Strasburg, VA

Emae Klompenhouwer, a Social Work major from Newport News, VA

Ani Koontz, a Biology major from North Newton, KS

Naomi Kratzer, a Music and History major from Goshen, IN

Gisele Kuate Mogouong, an Accounting and Business Administration major from Rockingham, VA

Sophia Lacher, a Liberal Arts, Elementary Education Licensure (PreK–6), and Special Education General Curriculum (K–6) major from Souderton, PA

Maggie Ladd, a Social Work major from Hesston, KS

Ella Lambert, a Nursing major from Lynchburg, VA

Lindsey Lantz, a Nursing major from Elkton, VA

Mac Lehman, a Music major from Dayton, VA

Erin Loker, a Psychology major from Rockingham, VA

Lydia Longacre, an English and Secondary Education Licensure (6–12) major from Quakertown, PA

Maria Longenecker, a Biology major from Lancaster, PA

Jose Lopez Vasquez, a Computer Science major from Harrisonburg, VA

Brittany Love, a Psychology major from Harrisonburg, VA

Summer Lucas, a Nursing major from Elkton, VA

Sarah Lynch, a Recreation and Sport Management major from Williamsburg, VA

Taylor Mackrell, a Nursing major from Hagerstown, MD

Taylor Mallory, a Nursing major from Stanardsville, VA

Brooke Martin, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Telford, PA

Olivia Martin, a Nursing major from Palmyra, VA

Arelys Martinez Fabian, a Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Winchester, VA

Micah Mast, an Engineering major from Lansdale, PA

Kiyah Mata, a Psychology major from Harrisonburg, VA

Jacob Mathers, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Lititz, PA

Joey Merica, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Harrisonburg, VA

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

Eli Miller, an Environmental Science major from Newton, KS

Hollyn Miller, a Psychology major from Lancaster, PA

Nathan Miller, a Business Administration major from Sugarcreek, OH

Kimberly Mojarro Gamino, a Nursing major from Harrisonburg, VA

Diego Morales Torres, a Computer Science major from Kissimmee, FL

Amy Morataya, a Social Work major from Woodbridge, VA

Samuel Myers, an Environmental Science major from Archbold, OH

Judith Nandikove, a Theology and Religion and Peacebuilding & Development major from Nairobi, Kenya

Zipola Nayituriki, a Social Work major from Harrisonburg, VA

Ethan Neufeld, a Biology and Biochemistry major from Newton, KS

Sophia Nguyen, a Biology major from Rockingham, VA

Jenna Oostland, an Environmental Science major from Goshen, IN

Hector Ortiz, an Engineering major from Woodbridge, VA

Samuel Osterberg, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from York, PA

Seth Ours, a Psychology major from Kalona, IA

Eden Owings, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Mechanicsburg, PA

Leah Palmieri, a Nursing major from Swoope, VA

Kemon Papadimitriou, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Lancaster, PA

Noel Parakuo, a Nursing major from Harrisonburg, VA

Malachi Peachey-Stoner, a Biology and Environmental Science major from Hesston, KS

Hizkia Permata, a Computer Science major from Hirata, Japan

Bryce Poppe, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Mechanicsburg, PA

Sarah Prroj, a Business Administration major from Harrisonburg, VA

Nick Rahe, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Lancaster, PA

Claire Reichenbach, a Chemistry major from Warsaw, IN

Conner Rhoades, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Mount Joy, PA

Adam Rhodes, an Environmental Science and Peacebuilding major from Rockingham, VA

Miriam Rhodes, a Music, Liberal Arts, and Elementary Education Licensure (PreK–6) major from Rockingham, VA

Ella Richer, an Environmental Science major from Archbold, OH

Key Ritchie, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design and Art major from Harrisonburg, VA

Andrew Rodes, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Mount Crawford, VA

Francisco Rodriguez, an International Business and Political Science major from Rockingham, VA

Kyla Ross, a Psychology major from Fredericksburg, VA

Joshua Rudd, a Business Administration major from Moseley, VA

Jasmin Ruiz, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design major from Harrisonburg, VA

Emma Ryman, a Nursing major from Harrisonburg, VA

Dee Sampson, a Leadership and Organizational Management major from Shenandoah, VA

Chris Santisteban, a Business Administration major from Ashburn, VA

Roumany Sefin, a Business Administration and Medical Lab Science major from Harrisonburg, VA

Addison Shanholtz, a Nursing major from Broadway, VA

Dulce Shenk Zeager, a Biology major from Lancaster, PA

Emma Shepard, a Nursing major from Grottoes, VA

Josiah Shimp, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Strasburg, PA

Marianne Short, a Nursing major from Wadsworth, OH

Rose Short, a Liberal Arts and Elementary Education Licensure (PreK–6) major from Wadsworth, OH

Ekram Siraj, a Social Work major from Harrisonburg, VA

Kenley Smith, a Health & Physical Education and Education Licensure (PreK–12) major from Strasburg, VA

Megan Smith, a Nursing major from Upper Tract, WV

Luke Snader, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Leola, PA

Brooke Snyder, a Writing Studies major from Phoenix, AZ

Elijah Spicher, a Nursing major from Rockingham, VA

April Stafford, a Nursing major from Spotsylvania, VA

Eli Stoll, a Peacebuilding & Development and Music major from Harrisonburg, VA

Keriana Stottlemyer, a Nursing major from Maurertown, VA

Will Stover, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Lititz, PA

Amelia Stuckey, a Biology and Environmental Science major from Middlebury, IN

Simon Stuckey, an Engineering major from Fairport, NY

Joshua Stucky, a Nursing major from Princeton, NJ

Kate Stutzman, a Biology major from Lakewood, CO

Levi Stutzman, an Engineering major from Centennial, CO

Kristina Suslaev, a Nursing major from Harrisonburg, VA

Kenzie Taylor, a Digital Media and Communication major from Chesapeake, VA

Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez, an Accounting and Business Administration major from Hopewell, VA

Michelle Thompson, a Nursing major from Culpeper, VA

Collin Troutman, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Sinking Spring, PA

Cassidy Turpen, a Psychology major from Woodbridge, VA

Tre Uzzle, a Business Administration major from South Chesterfield, VA

Christopher Varone, a Psychology major from Spotsylvania, VA

Delaney Via, a Nursing major from Charlottesville, VA

Aniyah Walker, a Business Administration and Marketing major from Hampton, VA

Ava Walker, a Psychology major from Glen Allen, VA

Jadyn Weik, a Leadership and Organizational Management (Aviation) major from Myerstown, PA

Micah Wenger, a Music major from Hutchinson, KS

Reuben Wenger, a Biochemistry and Peacebuilding major from Hutchinson, KS

Yuji Wenger, a Biology major from Lancaster, PA

Brendan White, a Business Administration major from Virginia Beach, VA

Amanda Yoder, a Nursing major from Mount Joy, PA

Bryn Yoder, a Nursing major from Millersburg, OH

Elliott Yoder, a Public Health major from Millersburg, OH

Malia Yoder, a Biology major from Kalona, IA

Noah Yoder, a Digital Media, Photography, and Design major from Surprise, AZ

Sam Yoder, a Nursing major from Apple Creek, OH

Lisa Zimmerman, an Environmental Science and Biology major from Leola, PA

Mara Zimmerman, an Environmental Science and Biology major from Leola, PA