Jeremy Samsoe likened the latest crop of graduates from EMU鈥檚 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鈥檚 not its only purpose, said Samsoe, director of IEP, speaking at the program鈥檚 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鈥檛 know before, he explained.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit like your experience here,鈥� Samsoe said. 鈥淎nd I would say that your time at IEP isn鈥檛 actually the road trip but a part of your road trip鈥攁 step toward some of the bigger goals you have in your life. Completing IEP isn鈥檛 your destination, but it鈥檚 a part of the journey to whatever destination you have planned.鈥�
Thursday鈥檚 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鈥檚 provost and vice president of academic affairs; Jon Swartz, dean of students; the graduates鈥� friends and family members; and students enrolled in IEP. The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in EMU鈥檚 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 鈥渢he best place to start and finish English.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 fully intensive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 tried all the other places (to learn English), but they were all about basics鈥攖hings I already mastered鈥攕o I never fit in anywhere else but here.鈥�
鈥淚 learned a lot and we got to know each other,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hanks to this program and the help of everyone, I could decide what I鈥檓 going to do with my life.鈥�
Cassy is now midway through the semester as a student at EMU鈥檚 Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, where he is pursuing a master of arts in conflict transformation. 鈥淚鈥檓 from Haiti, where we have a lot of conflict,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I went (to CJP), I realized it wasn鈥檛 only political or social conflict, but that we as human beings have a lot of conflict inside us. 鈥� IEP helped me a lot by helping me discover CJP.鈥�
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. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter how old you are; age is only a number,鈥� the 56-year-old Lara said. 鈥淚f you feel inside you need to improve your language, you can do that.鈥�
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 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥� with emotion.
鈥淓ach person at IEP is really important to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey became my family. I have improved my English language and it鈥檚 helped a lot with my goals for the future.鈥�
鈥淵ou have inspired me to keep learning, growing, and discovering new things,鈥� Zharkova said in a speech to her teachers. 鈥淭hank you for always making learning exciting and for your patience and for believing in me.鈥�
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 .
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