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Parham receives Spanish award

July 11, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - Recent University of West Georgia graduate Michael Parham received the prestigious award and title of University Student of the Year by the Georgia Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

Dr. Denise Overfield, assistant Spanish professor, nominated Parham for the award. “When it came time to nominate someone, everyone thought of Parham,” stated Overfield.

Parham’s interest in the Spanish language started at Rockmart High School when he was 15 years old. After three years of Spanish classes in high school, he was hooked. In May of 2000, Parham earned his associate’s degree in science and general studies from Floyd College. In May, he graduated from UWG, earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in German.

Currently, Parham is working at Clayton Mark Used Cars in Bremen, where he handles many Hispanic customers. He plans to work there this summer until he can find a job in his field.

Earlier this summer, Parham took a two-week venture into Cuernavaca, Mexico where he attended a week long class and brushed up on his Spanish skills. This is the same school where the UWG study abroad students attend classes for credit. Parham participated in the study abroad program in both 2001 and 2002. He credits his continued interest in Spanish to the strength of UWG’s faculty. He states, “The UWG foreign language department is excellent. Every teacher has a different method of teaching.”

Parham is no stranger to awards. In 2001, he received the Marianne Bobick Award and a $300 scholarship given to Foreign Language students who intend to teach. In 2002 he was the recipient of the Gordon Watson Award, which is given to one student in each area of the humanities disciplines.

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