Jeremy Samsoe likened the latest crop of graduates from EMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) to travelers on a road trip.
One of the goals of a road trip is to reach your destination, but that’s not its only purpose, said Samsoe, director of IEP, speaking at the program’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Martin Chapel. Oftentimes, the purpose of a road trip is to see exciting things along the way, meet new people, and learn things that you didn’t know before, he explained.
“It’s a bit like your experience here,” Samsoe said. “And I would say that your time at IEP isn’t actually the road trip but a part of your road trip—a step toward some of the bigger goals you have in your life. Completing IEP isn’t your destination, but it’s a part of the journey to whatever destination you have planned.”
Thursday’s ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of three graduates who completed Level 6, the highest level of classes offered at IEP, during the summer 2025 term. These graduates, who hail from different countries, languages, and cultures, burst into laughter and fought back tears as they described how meaningful the program has been in their lives. They received graduation certificates and stoles, each emblazoned with both the flag of their home country and the U.S. flag.
The summer 2025 IEP graduates, along with their home countries, are:
- Kensly Cassy, Haiti
- Olga Lara, Mexico
- Kateryna Zharkova, Ukraine
Those attending the ceremony included Tynisha Willingham, EMU’s provost and vice president of academic affairs; Jon Swartz, dean of students; the graduates’ friends and family members; and students enrolled in IEP. The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in EMU’s Roselawn Building.
Read on to learn more about each graduate.
Kensly Cassy
Cassy, who has been in the U.S. for two years, joined IEP for Level 6 and described the program as “the best place to start and finish English.”
“It’s fully intensive,” he said. “I tried all the other places (to learn English), but they were all about basics—things I already mastered—so I never fit in anywhere else but here.”
“I learned a lot and we got to know each other,” he added. “Thanks to this program and the help of everyone, I could decide what I’m going to do with my life.”
Cassy is now midway through the semester as a student at EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, where he is pursuing a master of arts in conflict transformation. “I’m from Haiti, where we have a lot of conflict,” he said. “When I went (to CJP), I realized it wasn’t only political or social conflict, but that we as human beings have a lot of conflict inside us. … IEP helped me a lot by helping me discover CJP.”
Olga Lara
Lara immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico about 20 years ago, and began her studies at IEP as a part-time student in Level 3 two years ago. She works at COSPU (Coalicion Solidaria Pro-Inmigrantes Unidos), a Harrisonburg nonprofit that empowers immigrant families through help and support, leadership mentoring, cultural and civic education, and advocacy.
She said IEP has helped her feel more confident. “It doesn’t matter how old you are; age is only a number,” the 56-year-old Lara said. “If you feel inside you need to improve your language, you can do that.”
Kateryna Zharkova
Originally from Ukraine, Zharkova started at IEP in Level 4 last fall and hopes to begin pursuing a master of business administration at EMU in January. Following the graduation ceremony, she described feeling “overwhelmed” with emotion.
“Each person at IEP is really important to me,” she said. “They became my family. I have improved my English language and it’s helped a lot with my goals for the future.”
“You have inspired me to keep learning, growing, and discovering new things,” Zharkova said in a speech to her teachers. “Thank you for always making learning exciting and for your patience and for believing in me.”
About the Intensive English Program
EMU’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 information about IEP, visit emu.edu/iep.
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