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2005-2006 DAAD Young Ambassadors |
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Take a look at the DAAD Young Ambassadors from the previous academic year. To read about and get in touch with this year's group, click here.
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Ozel Annamanthadoo |
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University: Queen’s University in Canada
Major: Honours Mathematics, Business German and International Studies
Two years ago I spontaneously purchased one of those “Teach Yourself German” books because I wanted to learn a new language and the book was on sale. This unwitting decision turned out to be the best one of my life as it opened the door for me to do a year abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. While studying at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg I took a variety of enriching courses including German language & culture courses, German Business-Politics and much more. In my free time, I had the opportunity to participate in a student theater group, give English lessons to business executives, tutor math to high school students, volunteer in Mannheim and even made my own music video. Overall, it was a fantastic year: I learned a new language, experienced a foreign culture, ate some really good food and in the end survived to tell about it. Learning German opened my mind to new international opportunities and enabled me to see past my own cultural paradigms – and that is immeasurably valuable.
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Christe-Belle Choy |
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University: University of British Columbia
Major: German and Political Science
Whenever I am asked, "Where are you from?" the answer that comes to mind is always, "Everywhere." I've had the opportunity throughout my life to live in several places including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Toronto and Vancouver. My life-long love for exploring cultures had created a longing to study and live in Europe. The idea of going to a market for fresh vegetables on a Saturday morning enticed me, a city girl. This dream of mine was realized in Freiburg, Germany, this past year. I continued with my Honours degree in German and Major in Political Science through the Canadian Year in Freiburg program. It was there, being a part of another world that I gained more perspective. I took a risk when I decided to go abroad, but the decision was consistent with a personal belief that when nothing is ventured, nothing is gained. The experience of being in an intellectual and passionate learning environment has undoubtedly enriched me as a student and as a person. Please feel free to talk to me about the great opportunities that are available to you.
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Mario Rodrigo Conde |
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University: Yale University
Major: Chemical Engineering
I am originally Brazilian and I went to high school in Nicaragua. I have been studying German at Yale for two years and I am interested in either pursuing a graduate degree or participating in research for some time in Germany upon my graduation from Yale. Also upon graduation, I plan to travel to Germany in the summer to follow the World Cup. In addition to much backpacking, I have spent my last two summers in Germany as a participant of DAAD’s “High Tech in Old Munich” and “Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)” programs. In the former I spent one month in the beautiful and cosmopolitan Bavarian city of Munich studying German and visiting different industrial and academic research centers in and around Munich. As a participant of RISE, I completed a two-month research internship in a chemical engineering laboratory at the University of Rostock. The internship allowed me to travel and discover more of Germany while also enjoying the beautiful beaches of the city of Rostock, on the Baltic coast in northern Germany. My experiences in Germany have been amazing both socially and culturally and I would encourage anyone with a curious and adventurous mind to explore the remarkable opportunities that Germany offers for study, research and travel.
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Jessica Denenberg |
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University: York University in Toronto, Canada
Major: International Studies
Email: denenberg@daad.org
I'm currently a Senior at York University. In 2003-2004, I spent a year studying at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg as an international exchange student, in cooperation with the Ontario/Baden-Württemberg (OBW) Student Exchange Program. Studying in Germany was one of the most wonderful, mind-opening, and challenging experiences of my life, and it allowed me a unique opportunity to research my field of study from a modern, European perspective. I was able to find a part-time job through the university’s international office, teaching English to 9- and10-year-old children who had never spoken it before. In the summer of 2005, I did an internship at the DAAD Head Office in Bonn, where I was able to gain valuable insight into the structure and functions of a German organisation. Looking back on my time abroad, studying and working in Germany has allowed me to view things from different perspectives, and has helped me to grow at personal, academic, and professional levels. Most importantly, it has left me with a feeling of accomplishment and experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
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James Eberlein |
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University: Washington State University
Major: German Language & Culture and Western European Studies
I am a Junior and member of the Honors College at Washington State University. In 2005 I studied at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin as part of the internationale Sommeruniversität für Germanistik. While in Berlin, I also conducted field research for my senior thesis. At Washington State University, I teach a Konversationskurs in the German department, where I have worked on a study of foreign language acquisition. My independent research focuses on the development of the European Union and Germany after 1989, and with the connection between these developments and international human rights Politik. My other areas of interest include the LGBT experience during the Holocaust and the concept of “Gender” in film. Next summer I will be returning to Berlin for an internship with Amnesty International Deutschland. My favorite German films include "Sonnenallee", "Alles auf Zucker!" and "Nirgendwo in Afrika". My least favorite German word is "Ketschup" and my favorite book is "Fleisch ist mein Gemüse".
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Laurie Fraser |
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University: Illinois State University
Major: German Education
I'm a Senior majoring in German Education with a minor in Mass Communications. I spent my Junior year abroad in Freiburg, Germany, and had the experience of a lifetime thanks to DAAD. While in Freiburg, apart from studying, I volunteered at the Bahnhofsmission, a social organization at the train and spent time at a refugee home where people from Kosovo live. I attended student rallies against tuition, worked for a weekend in German vineyards, and attended an Americans for Informed Democracy conference in Berlin. I got to travel to Prague, Amsterdam, Paris, Strasbourg, backpacked for three weeks across Western Europe. I also saw almost all of the major cities and many of the little villages of Germany, which made me fall even more in love with the country. All in all I made the most of my experience in Germany and I do my best to be as alive as possible in this world of limitless possibilities. After graduating I plan on teaching, I just do not know if that will be in America or Germany.
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Lisa Marie Gierke |
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University: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Major: German Education (K-12) and English
I spent my first two years of college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and transferred to the UW-Madison after studying in Germany for one year. This year I am a Senior. I studied abroad through the Wisconsin-Hessen Exchange Program from September 2004 through August 2005. I attended Philipps-Universität in Marburg, which is about an hour north of Frankfurt by train. I decided to apply for several scholarships because I thought studying abroad for a long period of time would be costly. I received the DAAD Undergraduate Scholarship, which paid for my entire stay in Germany for the year. During my year abroad I was able to travel to many cities in Germany and to a number of other countries in Europe. I was able to experience Germany from the view of a resident rather than just as a tourist. The linguistic as well as the cultural experiences from the past year have given me a different perspective on the world. I am already planning my next trip to Germany and am looking forward to other study and work opportunities abroad.
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David Gordon-Kamm |
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University: University of Pennsylvania
Major: Chemistry and German
I'm a Senior at University of Pennsylvania, where I also play club ice hockey and am a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Last year I studied in Munich with the Junior Year in Munich program based out of Wayne State University in Detroit. In Munich I was given the opportunity to take courses taught in German specifically designed for American study abroad students, along with the normal selection of courses offered at Ludwig-Maximilians Universität. I was very excited to have the chance to take classes in everything from The History of the Press in Germany, to Political Systems, to Art in Munich. After graduation, I plan on taking 1-2 years off pursuing research in chemistry or medicine either abroad or in the US, and then applying to medical school.
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Dan Jones |
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University: Iowa State University
Major: Music Education and German Education
Through ISEP (Internation Student Exchange Program) I recently completed a year abroad in Germany attending the University of Dortmund. While at Dortmund, I studied music as well as German. As a trumpeter I have performed with several Iowa State University Ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz Ensemble, as well as performing in the Central Iowa community. I also had the opportunity to play with the Dortmund Symphony Orchestra as well as the Glen Buschmann Jazz Academy Big Band during my studies in Germany. When I'm not involved in music I enjoy sports, traveling and being with my family in my free time. My wife Anja is from Wuelfrath, Germany, and is majoring in pre-medicine, also at Iowa State University. Eventually I hope to become either a music teacher or professor and Anja would like to be a plastic surgeon. We will most likely live in both Germany and the USA throughout our lives.
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Petra Kelsey |
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University: University of Texas at Austin
Major: German Studies and International Business
Hi, I’m a Junior at the University of Texas at Austin. After my Freshman year I wanted to do something adventurous, so I signed a contract to work as a nanny for a family in Switzerland. This was my first exposure to the German language. After coming back to school and getting involved in the university German club and German Radio on KVRX, I decided that it was time to actually go to Germany. So this last summer I embarked on a new work/study exchange between Austin and her German sister-city Koblenz. The summer was challenging, exciting and completely rewarding. I found myself using my German in practically every way: formally in the office and also just hanging out with my fellow classmates. I traveled around Germany quite a bit, ranging from seeing a fashion show in Berlin, to watching big German bands during the “Rheinkultur” in Bonn, to attending a house party in the small city Mönchengladbach. If anyone is thinking about studying, working or traveling Germany, you can feel free to email me with any questions!
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Karen Koop |
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University: Texas A&M University
Major: Engineering
In the summer of 2005 I had the wonderful opportunity to research at the University of Muenster, Germany, through DAAD's Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program. I worked with a group from the Institute for Nuclear Physics and analyzed data from an experiment currently running at Brookhaven National Laboratories in Long Island, NY, studying a new state of matter, the Quark-Gluon Plasma. I was able to present my research at the joint American Physical Society's Division of Nuclear Physics and Japanese Physical Society in Maui, Hawaii, in September 2005. While in Germany I went camping with German students at the North Sea, toured Berlin in a convertible with a German friend, and enjoyed German beer in Heidelberg with other North American undergraduate students during the RISE Scholars' meeting. I am now a Junior and plan to combine my dedication to the nuclear industry with my passion for international politics. I encourage you to take advantage of the excellent resources available for study in Germany, and would love to share my experiences with you or answer questions!
Congratulations to Karen on being selected selected as one of 24 students at Texas A&M to the Academy of Future International Leaders.
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Jessica McBride |
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University: Princeton University
Major: History and German
Grüß Euch! My name is Jess, and I am a Senior at Princeton University. Although I started learning the German language only in my first year of college, I have always felt a strong attraction to the country and culture through my father's German heritage. Since then, however, German and Germany have become very much my own path. I studied abroad in Munich for one month and then spent the spring semester of my Sophomore year in Berlin at the Humboldt and Freie Universities. Particularly the second experience strongly defined my studies at Princeton and my conception of my future, as well as profoundly shaping me as a person. This summer I spent researching for my thesis, on the return of German prisoners of war to a newly divided Berlin, in the city's archive, as well as in two internships, one in the Citizens' Office in the Hessen State Chancellory, and one in the CDU/CSU Bundestagsfraktion in the Parliament in Berlin. After graduating from Princeton in a few short months, I hope to return to Berlin to continue to develop my interest in foreign policy and the European Union. I am first and foremost incredibly enthusiatic about my collective experience in Germany and therefore without a doubt would love to answer questions, share stories, show pictures, and the like.
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John Robertson |
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University: University of Miami
Major: History and German
I am currently a Senior at the University of Miami. I've been studying German since 7th grade, and still have more to learn. I spent my Junior year at the University of Leipzig, in Saxony, where I studied German history and literature. My travels while I was there took me around Germany, to the Rhineland, to Prague, and to Denmark, and I would love to go back. My time in Leipzig was the highlight of my undergraduate career, and was a challenging experience which led to personal growth. I plan to go on to graduate school in history and I think that my experiences in Germany will be invaluable there as well. I'm really excited to be a Young Ambassador because I want to become more involved in representing Germany and German culture in order to help other students have the opportunities which I had.
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Stefanie Wiegand |
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University: Washington University in St. Louis
Major: Biology and German
I grew up in the good ol’ Midwest and am currently a Junior enjoying my German and Biology classes. When I was little I spent a few summers in Germany and I just fell in love with the language and the culture. This summer I was in Marburg, Germany doing an internship in a zoology laboratory as part of DAAD's RISE program. My favorite part about the internship was that I got to cut hydra in half and they would regenerate just like in the Greek myth. Marburg turned out to be a charming town with a castle and cobblestone streets, and I traveled all around Germany by train. My German improved and people started to open up to me once I got around the language barrier. Halfway through my internship there was a meeting of all the RISE participants in Heidelberg. That was definitely one of the highlights of my trip because I gained new perspectives about living and working in Germany. I'd recommend the RISE program to anyone!
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Eric Ziller |
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University: San Francisco State University
Major: International Business and German Studies
I’m a Senior and I’ve recently returned from an incredible academic year abroad in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Having had been accepted into California State University study abroad program, I was allowed to attend the Fachhochschule Reutlingen, one of the most respected and highest ranked business schools in the nation. There I attended the majority of my business classes in German while concurrently taking business oriented language courses. In addition to my studies at the Fachhochschule, I also attended several literature and language courses at nearby Universtät Tübingen in the spring semester of 2005. I lived in a great Wohngemeinschaft in the quaint neighboring university town of Tübingen. There was a small stream that flowed directly in front of my door that necessitated crossing a small drawbridge in order to enter the apartment. My experience in Germany was without a doubt one of the most fulfilling and exciting adventures I’ve ever undertaken in my life. The memories and friendships I take with me I will always cherish, and has undoubtedly serve to profoundly shape my future.
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Complete List of DAAD Young Ambassadors |
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| Ozel Annamanthadoo |
Major: Mathematics; German minor
Home university: Queens University
German university: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg |
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| Christe-Belle Choy |
Major: German, Political Science
Home university: University of British Columbia
German university: Universität Freiburg |
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| Mario Rodrigo Conde |
Major: Chemical Engineering
Home university: Yale University
German university: Universität Rostock, Technische Universität Munich |
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| Jessica Denenberg |
Major: International Studies
Home university: York University
German university: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg |
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| James Eberlein |
Major: German, European Studies
Home university: Washington State University
German university: Humboldt Universität in Berlin |
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| Laurie Fraser |
Major: German Education, Mass Communications
Home university: Illinois State University
German university: Albert-Ludwig Universität in Freiburg |
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| Lisa Gierke |
Major: German Education, English
Home university: University of Wisconsin-Madison
German university: Philipps Universität in Marburg |
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| David Gordon-Kamm |
Major: German Studies, Chemistry
Home university: University of Pennsylvania
German university: Ludwig Maximilian Universität of Munich |
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| Dan Jones |
Major: Music Education and German Education
Home university: Iowa State University
German university: Universität Dortmund |
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| Petra Kelsey |
Major: Germanic Studies, International Business
Home university: University of Texas in Austin
German university: Koblenz Universität |
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| Karen Koop |
Major: Engineering
Home university: Texas A&M University
German university: Universität Münster |
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| Jessica McBride |
Major: History; certificate in German Studies
Home university: Princeton University
German university: Humboldt Universität and Freie Universität in Berlin |
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| John Robertson |
Major: History, German
Home university: University of Miami
German university: Universität Leipzig |
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| Stefanie Wiegand |
Major: Biology, German
Home university: Washington University in St. Louis
German university: Philipps-Universität Marburg |
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| Eric Ziller |
Major: International Business, German Studies
Home university: San Francisco State University
German university: Fachhochschule Reutlingen, Universität Tübingen |
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