Emily Berry '20
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Psychology and Spanish major from O’Fallon, IL
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Awarded the 2019-2020 Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award
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Camp counselor and supervisor for children’s recreational activities at the YMCA in O’Fallon
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Tutor and advisor in McKendree’s Student Success and Advising Center
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Member of Kappa Sigma Tau Sorority, Campus Activities Board, Psi Chi and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Societies
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Volunteer with the Lyn Huxford Center for Community Service
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Attended Technos trip to Japan in 2018 and studied abroad in Seville, Spain in 2019
By Stephanie (Coartney) Dulaney '10
With each trip abroad, senior Emily Berry ’20 has grown her love of learning, appreciation for different cultures, and commitment
to serving people in communities all over the world. Her McKendree experience has
taught her that something wonderful happens when you’re surrounded by people who support
and encourage you. You want to treat others with the same care you received, and in
Emily’s case, she has dedicated her career to doing just that.
As a double major in Psychology and Spanish, Emily has her sights set on becoming a clinical psychologist working
with children in a school or hospital setting. Her travels to the Spanish-speaking
countries of Guatemala, Cuba, and Spain inspired her to become fluent in the language
in order to better serve children in Hispanic communities. “Currently in the U.S.,
only five percent of clinical psychologists speak Spanish,” she said. “I want to work
with a diverse population and provide them with the best resources to make a beneficial
future.”
This fall, she was named the University’s Student Lincoln Laureate award winner for
her strong leadership skills, service to others, and success in the classroom. She
was nominated for the honor by two of her professors, whom she credits with making
her college experience truly life-changing.
Looking back on her time at McKendree, Emily is amazed at where her journey has led
her, especially the opportunities she had to visit nine countries and get so involved
in campus life. During her freshman year, she traveled to Guatemala with a church
mission group, and the following year, she traveled to Cuba with a group of McKendree
students and her Spanish professor. “This trip made me realize that I wanted one of
my majors to be Spanish,” she said. “I really wanted to continue learning about Hispanic
cultures and increase my knowledge about the language so I could communicate more
with others around the world.”
Later that same year, she was selected as one of two McKendree students to travel
to Japan for the annual Technos trip. Finally, as a junior, she spent a semester studying
abroad in Seville, Spain. During the trip, she also had the chance to explore parts
of Portugal, Morocco, England, and Ireland. She loved experiencing the Spanish culture
with her host family, and taking university classes there, such as “Psychology/Sociology
of Learning a Second Language” and “History of Women in Latin America.”
"Everywhere I went, I made sure to make new connections with people and learn something
new."
Emily was most drawn to the people in each unique place she visited. Whether she was
forming friendships or just learning from their life experiences, she discovered her
passion for serving others because, as she found, people are people no matter where
you go. The support of her Bearcat family also went with her through it all.
“Seeing how others’ positivity, kindness, and support has affected me, I want to do
the same,” she said. “I want to provide resources to others so they can create their
best lives. Everyone deserves those opportunities: good environment, optimistic mindset,
belief in accomplishing their tasks effectively. I want to work with children because
I hope that providing resources will allow them to become fully functioning adults.”
After graduation, Emily will mentor grade school students in Miami, Florida, through
AmeriCorps’ City Year program. She has also applied to be an English teaching assistant
with PeaceCorps Costa Rica, as well as the Fulbright program in Mexico.
Learn more about opportunities at McKendree University.
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