TU Student Earns Germany's Young Ambassador Appointment

Monday, September 17, 2007

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has appointed University of Tulsa student Shane Gummersheimer as one of its 2007-2008 Young Ambassadors, the first university student in Oklahoma to receive the honor.

Gummersheimer, a senior computer science and German double major with a math minor from Ballwin, Mo., will promote study abroad programs in Germany on the TU campus and other educational institutions in the area.

His unique academic combination of German, computer science and math made him stand out for the Young Ambassador program, said Wendy Sheets, assistant director of TU’s Center for Global Education (CGE). She said he will be able to reach out to other science and engineering students, who are less represented in study abroad programs, to look into international study opportunities.

"Shane’s participation in DAAD provides a great resource for TU students considering a study abroad program," said Sheets. "And his enthusiasm is contagious."

For his spring 2007 semester, Gummersheimer attended the University of Siegen, one of TU’s exchange partner universities in Germany. He also benefited from a two-month internship working in a German printing company.

"Studying abroad was the greatest experience of my entire life," Gummersheimer said. "Joining this program was a way I could give other students the chance to have a truly amazing experience."

In addition to the great advances in language skills that he achieved during his time in Germany, Gummersheimer said the experience expanded other skills as well. He encourages his fellow students to go abroad for the many benefits it can give them.

"It taught me a great deal of people skills to know how to work in a variety of places, what the norms are in other cultures, and really, how to understand a different way of life," Gummersheimer said.

Since 2002, TU’s Center for Global Education has helped TU students study, work and travel on five continents in 34 countries, using nine different languages.

For more information, contact the TU Center for Global Education at (918) 631-3229.