2013 Sophomore / Junior Scholarship Winner Announced: Shaydon Ramey from Wittenberg University

Congratulations to Shaydon Bryce Ramey, this year’s winner of the Delta Phi Alpha scholarship in the sophomore/junior category. Shaydon is a German major from Wittenberg University, with a Delta Phi Alpha Chapter founded in 1931, representing one of the oldest Universities in the United States with a chapter of the National German Honorary society. With a near-perfect GPA, Shaydon comes highly recommended—one of his references wrote that he is “one of the most enthusiastic and motivated language students” he has known, and that he “always exceeds expectations.” The other noted that Shaydon “is a young man of uncommon academic and linguistic gifts” and speaks of his “uncompromising diligence.”  Shaydon will use his prize to defray costs of his semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria with Bowling Green University’s study abroad program. He plans to study German language and literature, as well as European history and politics and German and Austrian music. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Shaydon plans to study translation at the graduate level with the goal of becoming a professional translator. An immersion experience such as the one he plans for next semester will be an important part of his professional development.

Shaydon speaks of his award:

“It is a great honor to receive the 2013 Delta Phi Alpha Scholarship. When I came to Wittenberg University, I had planned to study German, but I did not know how important it would become in my life. It has led to my earning the respect of my peers and professors as a student, tutor, and even as a paid translator. The Delta Phi Alpha Scholarship will enable me to study at the Universität Salzburg, where I may at once become familiar with Austrian culture and improve my skills as a speaker and writer of German. This opportunity will also provide an invaluable foundation for later applications to the Fulbright Commission and to graduate programs in German language and literature. I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Delta Phi Alpha. I am proud of the honor that they have bestowed upon me and of my membership in this distinguished organization.”

Delta Phi Alpha was formed in 1929 at Wofford College. As the National German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha seeks to recognize excellence in the study of German and to provide an incentive for higher scholarship. It awards two study abroad scholarships annually to outstanding German honor students, representing the top undergraduate students in the United States in the field of German Studies.