Thiessen joins 2025 cohort of Future Teacher Scholars

Ripon College senior Meredith Thiessen was recently awarded a scholarship from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) for Future Teacher Scholars.

The Future Teacher Scholarship Program offers merit-based funding to undergraduate students and graduating high school seniors who are dedicated to pursuing a career in teaching languages other than English. Thiessen is one of nine undergraduates chosen for the cohort.

“Being a recipient of the scholarship means a lot, especially when it is coming from experts in the field,” Thiessen said. “It is exciting to know that the people who basically write the modern methods of language teaching in the United States feel that the effort I have put into my undergraduate education to become a language teacher is something they find promising. It gives me a lot of confidence and reassurance that I am on the right path to accomplish my goals.”

Professor of Spanish and Director of the Catalyst Curriculum Timothy Reed said ACTFL is one of the premier national organizations for the teaching of foreign languages, and it is a true honor for her and for Ripon College to be recognized as a future leader in the Spanish classroom.

“Meredith is a very deserving recipient of the ACTFL future foreign language teachers award,” Reed said. “She works very well with others and has been an asset both as a student and as an activity facilitator in class. I have no doubt that she will have a wonderful teaching career after Ripon.”

Thiessen is double majoring in Spanish and secondary education with a minor in history. Following her graduation in May 2026, she said she plans to complete student teaching in the fall. After that, her goal is to start teaching Spanish at the K-12 level.

“This scholarship helps me achieve those goals on multiple levels,” Thiessen said. “It provides financial support which allows me time to focus on academics and even take on an independent study with Professor Reed where I help out in an elementary Spanish course.”

Thiessen said she is honored to share this opportunity with others, highlighting the value of studying foreign languages.

“I really hope it inspires more Ripon College students to get out of their comfort zone and study a foreign language, and for any current students already studying languages, I hope it encourages them to keep going and growing in their language education careers,” Thiessen said.

Requirements for the scholarship program include having completed at least two years of a language in high school or being an active undergraduate student, a college acceptance letter or college transcript, a personal statement of 250 words explaining what teaching a language means to you and a letter of recommendation from a language teacher at your institution.

In her personal statement, Thiessen reflected on a moment in her 7th grade Spanish class when she decided to become fluent in Spanish.

At Ripon, Thiessen works as a career ambassador at the Center for Career and Professional Development and tutors in writing and presentations, along with Spanish courses at the Heinz Franzen Learning Center. She performs with the symphonic wind ensemble, playing flute and piccolo, is the president of Ripon College Democrats and is the director of on-campus involvement in Kappa Delta. Additionally, she is involved with several honor societies, including Order of Omega, Laurel Society and Phi Sigma Iota. From July 2024 to July 2025, she studied abroad in Córdoba, Argentina, working as an intern at el Colegio Nacional de Monseratt with an English class.