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WOU Receives Interpreter Education Award of Excellence

category: ASL English Interpreting, 

 

Excellence can only mean accomplishment beyond the ordinary. Ordinary is defined as what is to be expected or what is common among the majority. Therefore, when a group wins an award of excellence, it defines them as the top, most prestigious group among many. Western Oregon University's ASL English interpreting program won such an award recently. At a national interpreting conference in Puerto Rico in October of 2008, the interpreting professors from WOU were presented with the Sorenson Interpreter Education Program Award of Excellence. This was a compliment to the program, the faculty and students of the ASL/English interpreting program at WOU.


The impressive point of this accomplishment is that the award was competitive. A monetary award was given as well as a physical trophy, and WOU's program was the applicant that earned the award. More impressive still, the award was available for two qualified applicants, but Western Oregon University was the only recipient of the award for 2008. In other words, WOU is not only one of the best programs; it is highly set apart from the other interpreter education programs that applied for the award. Because of the quality sign language classes, the effective curriculum, and the overall quality of education, Western Oregon's is among the most prestigious interpreter training programs in the nation. WOU holds its students to standards about professionalism and language skills. The program encourages development in both signing American Sign Language and speaking English. The abilities the students gain within their training is immensely helpful for their future profession.


Receiving the award, however, is not only a compliment to the professors and school; it compliments every student who is involved in the ASL/English Interpreting program. The students show excellent caliber by committing to a high-level BA or BS major. Since the students can continue through an in-depth, cutting-edge training process, they prove that Western Oregon students are capable of learning to be prestigious professionals. The award of excellence is an award to prove the quality of the school. However, it also proves the excellence of WOU students.


The money, which has already been mentioned, is being used to further the progress of the program. The professors wish to use the money to better the quality of training and the benefits for students of ASL/English interpreting. The already excellent interpreter education program, with the award it won for that very excellence, is not allowing itself to find a rut; it will continue to grow and become the best education program that it can be.


In addition, WOU is one of only three universities in the country to offer a bachelor degree program in ASL and English Interpreting.


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