Emma Correia
Emma Correia, a double major in Spanish and Linguistics with a minor in Education, was one of only seven students in the country to receive the 2023 Gabriela Mistral Award, which is awarded by Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, to members who have shown outstanding initiative in addition to academic excellence. In addition to winning this national honor, Correia was named the Outstanding Senior for Linguistics and served as an ambassador to the UB College of Arts and Sciences for both Linguistics and RLL.
During her time in RLL, Correia studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain and completed an internship at the International Institute of Buffalo. Summarizing her RLL experience, Correia writes that the department “offered a close-knit, supportive community within the larger University. This experience and individualized support from my faculty mentors allowed me to feel comfortable and capable of pursuing many experiential learning opportunities including studying abroad, completing internships, teaching courses, completing research, and facilitating clubs. My involvement in RLL was the foundation of my undergraduate experience and I would not have the opportunities that I have today without their guidance, encouragement, and knowledge.”
One of those opportunities, which Correia will be taking advantage of next year, is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Andorra. Correia highlights both the instruction she received in the Catalan language and mentorship during the application process from RLL faculty as factors in winning this prestigious award. Her long-term goal is to pursue an advanced degree related to multilingualism and second-language acquisition, and if her past is any indication, she will achieve this goal and more in the coming years.