The trip included visits to the historical sites of the National Socialist Party Rallies in Nuremberg, the courtroom of the Nuremberg Processes, the atrium in the University of Munich’s main building where the student members of the White Rose resistance movement were arrested while distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets, the site of the “Beer Hall Putsch” where Hitler first tried to overthrow the German government in 1923, the Dachau Concentration Camp, and a number of historically significant places in Berlin, including the Reichstag, as well as the site of the atrocious 1933 book burning event.

Students got to visit, study, and compare numerous memorial sites and places of remembrance, including the national Holocaust Memorial right next to the Brandenburg Gate, the Jewish Museum with its multiple experiential memorial features, and many “Stolpersteine” in various cities – brass “tripping stones” in the sidewalks that remind of the Jews who used to live in nearby buildings.

In addition to a rather full program, students had free time to explore Munich and Berlin, get acquainted with German cuisine and public transportation, experience Karaoke and other aspects of German night life, and visit an opera show and other cultural performances. Among the highlights were the ‘free’ days. Splitting into two groups, some went to Salzburg, Austria, while others climbed the “Hirschberg,” a 5,500-foot peak in the foothills of the Alps. On the free day in Berlin, students took advantage of the warm weather and went to the Wannsee beach, while others explored Berlin flea markets.

Despite the trip’s heavy and dark historical theme, many students regretted having to return after only 12 days. “This has been the highlight of my college education,” one student wrote in the trip evaluations. Others praised the “unforgettable memories that will stay in my heart forever” and noted that they had gained “lifelong friendships” on the trip. German and double major Matthew Hohmann noted: “I spent 20 years having never left the country and after this trip I want to always be out of it.” Here’s hoping that many other Montclair students will have the opportunity to study abroad, be it on a faculty-led trip like this one, in a summer program, or for a semester or year abroad. The students from this trip certainly caught the travel bug and many of them sure will return abroad one day.

Every guest was a winner, receiving a German-themed temporary tattoo, stickers, gummy bears, an inspirational German-language message, or a flag from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein as a souvenir. The club not only handed out hundreds of prizes to interested visitors, but also enjoyed special connections with the many guests who had visited a German-speaking country before, who plan to visit, and/or who are taking German classes at Montclair.

The club members themselves represent some of the diversity typical at Montclair, with members of the executive board also sharing connections to Dominican, Mexican, Peruvian, Polish, Italian, Ukrainian, Kazak and other cultures, and to majors such as Language, Business & Culture; Math; Data Science; Chemistry; Linguistics and more.

As can be seen in this and in the recent feature of staff member Casey Coleman, who organizes the day, World’s Fair Day brings together many kinds of campus organizations and connects with hundreds of attendees from the campus and local communities, including everyone from the University President Jonathan Koppell to the University mascots to children visiting campus for Take Your Child to Work Day. Held on the final day of campus events before finals, the day also served as a culmination of an action-packed year in which German Club enjoyed outings to the NJ Devil’s and the Jewish History Center in New York City, karaoke auf Deutsch, and much more. The executive board has already begun shaping plans for next fall’s events, no doubt informed by the study abroad many club members will undertake in Germany this summer.

As part of this partnership, each year two ��Ʒ���˸������� University students receive full-year, full-ride scholarships, including a living stipend, to study at the and live in Graz.

This year, Jose Padilla and Atticus Heuges have not only explored academics and new social connections in German – they were even featured in a local Graz newspaper. In their German interview with a reporter, published in (Bürger:inneninformation der Stadt Graz), a large public monthly news outlet for the city of Graz, the students discussed their admiration for the Austrian quality of life, their sense of security living in a country without weapons, and their appreciation for low tuition costs at Austrian universities (non-European Union citizens pay 750 Euros, or about 900 dollars, per semester).

Ranging from the challenge of being in lectures where they only understand about 80 percent of the professor’s presentation because of the language barrier to praise for Austrian investment in fundamentals such as public health care and public transportation, the interview demonstrates how these students are indeed living up to the ’s purpose of boosting intercultural communication between the United States and Austria.

Jose Padilla plans to return in the fall to continue his degree in Political Science, while Atticus Heuges plans to pursue a career teaching in Europe after graduation.

As an international student from Mexico, she was drawn to �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s computing program and the chance to build a tech career. After she excelled in a German language course, that success became the first step toward building multiple degrees, as faculty encouraged her to add German, explore linguistics and step into teaching and research roles she had never considered. She even turned her work with children in German into a research project on how programs like the SPARK Lab influence college students’ interest in teaching.

“One of the most important things I’ve learned at Montclair is that you don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing,” Zarate Gonzalez says.

At �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s SPARK Lab, Isabella Zarate Gonzalez collaborates with fellow students to plan German lessons for local schoolchildren as part of a national ‘SPARK for German’ teaching network. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Community‑engaged learning that opens doors

The SPARK Lab is a partnership between Montclair and nearby schools, giving children early access to world languages while mentoring college students into community‑focused leadership roles. It is part of a national network supported by the . Zarate Gonzalez is among the students who teach German to elementary school children one hour a week for six weeks each semester, including a Meistergruppe for kids who speak German as a heritage language.

Children in �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s SPARK Lab listen to German fairy tales. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

As part of a multi‑university research project with the University of Tennessee Knoxville, the University of St. Thomas and the University of Chicago, she led data collection and analysis on how SPARK affects college students. She focused on whether experiences like the SPARK Lab encourage students to consider teaching German and what broadly applicable professional skills they gain, surveying �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s student instructors about their motivations and how teaching had changed their career plans.

The research findings, co‑authored with faculty and collaborators at the four campuses, were and presented at the 2023 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages conference in Chicago.

At Montclair, Isabella Zarate Gonzalez found support to grow a single major into three degrees – Data Science, Language, Business and Culture, and German – plus a minor in Linguistics. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Studying abroad with scholarship support

Scholarship support opened the world for Zarate Gonzalez.

Through the  Montclair–Graz Sister City Scholarship, she spent the 2024–25 academic year studying in Graz, Austria. The full scholarship, funded by ��Ʒ���˸������� University, �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Overseas Neighbors and the City of Graz, provides free tuition, room and a small stipend and sends two Montclair undergraduates each year to study in �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s sister city.

�ѴDzԳٳ���������’s status as a Hispanic‑Serving Institution also helped her win a full scholarship to Middlebury’s prestigious German Language School, a summer immersion program.

“There aren’t a lot of people who can say, ‘This university allowed me to do three bachelor’s degrees, win full scholarships and study abroad in Europe,’” she says.

Isabella Zarate Gonzalez talks with Associate Professor Pascale LaFountain in �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s SPARK Lab. In addition to their work there, Zarate Gonzalez joined LaFountain on a translation project for an archive of Austrian Jewish history. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Hands-on research and a peek into history

Advanced language study also led Zarate Gonzalez into meaningful work and helped her discover the academic field that ties her interests together. With Associate Professor Pascale LaFountain and local resident Diane Forman, she worked on a translation project for an extraordinary archive of Austrian Jewish history centered on Forman’s grandfather, composer Wilhelm Grosz.

The team organized and translated Grosz’s letters – including correspondence with figures such as Leonard Bernstein and Langston Hughes – along with his musical manuscripts, Nazi‑era property documents and personal library, preparing the materials for the Exil.arte Jewish music archive in Austria.

For Zarate Gonzalez, working so closely with those documents made the Holocaust feel personal and showed her how language skills and data‑driven thinking could come together in fields like Computational Linguistics.

Looking ahead

When Zarate Gonzalez graduates in May 2026, she will have earned degrees in Data Science; Language, Business and Culture; and German, plus a minor in Linguistics – all completed in four years.

Now, as she looks ahead, she is exploring teaching opportunities in both German and STEM fields and planning for a future master’s program in Computational Linguistics.

“I think about what would have happened if I had chosen not to come to Montclair,” she says. “My life would be completely different. I genuinely believe I got the most out of it.”

Ready to start your Montclair journey? Learn more about the College of Science and Mathematics and the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Montclair.

Accepted students: Make it official by submitting your new student deposit and registering to attend Accepted Students Day.

Students have used these scholarships to cover much of their tuition, housing, and even travel costs for the in which they take German courses alongside students from around the world, taking time to explore Neuschwanstein castle, the Alps, the BMW headquarters, and other sites along the way.

The students, many of whom choose to major or minor German and/or the interdisciplinary Language, Business & Culture (LBC) major with a concentration in German, return with three credits toward their major or minor as well as unforgettable experiences to take into their continued studies and careers in a variety of fields.

Hear From the Students

My summer experience in Munich was a life-changing experience that helped me learn more German than I did before and interact with people around the world. I had many first-time experiences, such as hiking, going to Austria, and experiencing nightlife. I had an amazing time and I thank the Kade Foundation for assisting in funding that experience for me. – Miguel Disla; Mathematics Major, German Minor

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to participate in the MISU’s summer program at München. Thanks to the Kade Foundation scholarship, I was able to improve my German through daily interactive lessons taught by Valeria. At first I did experience culture shock, but I learned to adapt and live here for the entirety of August. I am truly grateful for making unforgettable and fun memories with friends from around the world. –Ruth Fernandez; Language, Business & Culture and Business Administration Double Major

The Kade scholarship that I received helped me travel to Europe for the first time in my life. My experience changed me immensely and helped me gain insight into a new culture and experience. I also learned a lot about how much I like to travel and I also met many students from all over the world giving me connections to a plethora of different cultures. – Eric Anilonis; Economics Major, German minor

I am so thankful for the experience I had in Munich this summer; as my first time living away from home I felt independent and more ready to explore the world. I am thankful for the stipend as it allowed me more freedom to explore the culture and truly live out my international experience as fully as I could! – David Darius; Biology and German Double Major

My Munich summer experience was inspiring and allowed me to build lifelong connections to the language, culture and people. While there, I attended classes, interacted with locals, experienced historical landmarks and made connections with people from around the world.  – Madison Gunderman; Psychology 

I am a triple major with around 1 1/2 years of experience in learning German. This scholarship allowed me to pursue my dream of visiting Germany as well as support me in learning German. I was able to go to Austria for a weekend with friends and experience the culture and landscape over there. It was a lot of fun and I got to eat a lot of good food as well. This opportunity solidified my aspiration to work and study in Germany for my graduate program in geoscience. – Kit Haig; Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geographic, Environmental and Urban Studies, and German triple major

I’m majoring in linguistics and language, business, and culture with a German concentration. This scholarship has helped me complete my course requirements for my major concentration. It has also helped me gain first hand experience on what it is like to study in a foreign country, such as Konstanz, Germany, and gain insight on cultural differences and practices, learning history, etc. The most memorable experience for me was meeting and getting to know other fellow students from around the world, as well as meeting two new friends whom I’ll never forget. Studying abroad has increased my aspirations in traveling more to see the world, learn new languages and cultures, and looking forward to conducting more business travel. It also makes me aspire to meet new people from different backgrounds and create new friendships and connections for memorable experiences. – Ykaterina Diaz; Linguistics and Language, Business & Culture (concentration in German) double major

�ѴDzԳٳ���������’s students have won coveted spots at the GSE three years running and have frequently gone on to pursue graduate study or international scholarships upon completing their BAs at Montclair.

• Ath-Yah Brathwaite, a 2023 GSE winner, stayed in touch with other graduate student prospective students after her travel workshop, was accepted with graduate assistantships and full tuition waiver at several German Studies MA and Ph.D. programs across the country, and has begun her masters degree at the University of Maryland in College Park.

• Bailey Dunn received a upon graduation and is spending the 2025-2026 academic year in Austria while also working on an online masters in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.

• Avelisse Guzman is currently doing a prestigious Fulbright grant-funded year in Germany and is considering various teaching and/or graduate study options after her Fulbright grant is completed.

• Jack McCabe is currently considering a variety of travel and study plans, many of which are tied to scholarships, grants, and paid assistantships in the United States or Europe. He describes his participation in the summer program as one of his richest undergraduate experiences and looks forward to further building on his experience with applied German language, culture, and historical work.

These students, like others pursuing a German major or minor or a Language, Business & Culture major with a concentration in German with �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s German program, each got to participate in a study abroad experience. They each complete their undergraduate studies poised to pursue international careers, intercultural leadership roles at international corporations, teaching, or a variety of other careers in which they apply their language, communication, and intercultural expertise.

The World Language and Culture programs at Montclair build on this, standing out as some of the best in the country. A few examples:

• �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s French Program was in 2025 the sole university to be named as an by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).
• In 2025, German and French Professor Pascale LaFountain was awarded �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s first Presidential Excellence in Teaching Award as well as the national AATG award for Outstanding Post-Secondary Educator.
• Italian faculty member Enza Antenos has been named national Educator of the Year by the Italian Language Foundation, and the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) has recognized Dr. Antenos with its national Distinguished Service Award in 2023.
• �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s German Program in 2020 became one of a very selective group of by the American Association of Teachers of German.
• Italian faculty members Marisa Trubiano and Teresa Fiore have both been named to the prestigious .

With the faculty frequently publishing on their teaching and cultural scholarship, and being invited to share their expertise around the country and the world, each faculty member is also fully committed to teaching and advising at all levels.

Italian Professor Marisa Trubiano notes, “In my twenty-five years of teaching here at ��Ʒ���˸������� University, every new semester has brought together an exciting, challenging, inquisitive new group of young people into a community of inquiry that it has been a privilege to teach. These students’ intellectual and professional development is always first and foremost on our minds as we all find innovative ways to facilitate and support their growth and readiness for our rapidly changing world.”

Many students choose to double major in Arabic, Asian Languages, French, German, or Italian alongside majors in business, sciences, humanities, education and the arts. While participating in World Language and Culture programs, students engage in collaborative and community-building projects such as the Haitian Poetry Project, Teaching German in the SPARK for German Teaching Lab, performing theater in Italy, and capstone courses in Language, Business & Culture featuring conversations with business leaders applying their language skills for career success.

After graduation, many students take on positions in international companies, win international Fulbright grants after graduation, or pursue advanced degrees.

With its standout programs in World Languages and Cultures, Montclair significantly contributes to preparing the next generation of globally ready diplomats, entrepreneurs, teachers, and innovators.

This program will also offer an introduction to the practice of travel writing, teaching writers the process of turning travel journals, observations, and pictures into pieces suitable for potential publication. Students will read and analyze successful travel writing by contemporary writers and engage in writing exercises designed to inspire insightful, original writing about their favorite sites and travel experiences in Munich and Berlin.

Course Dates: Spring 2026
Travel Dates: May 12-May 24
Application Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025
Cost: $2982 (Flights Included)

Program Overview:
SEMESTER Course (required to travel):
Course: GERM 227: Nazi Cinema and Propaganda
Counts as General Education OR SEEDS.
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: WRIT 105, HONP 100 or GERM 102 may be taken as prerequisite or co-requisite.
Faculty Leaders: Thomas Herold

This national award, AATG’s highest honor, recognizes innovation in teaching, extraordinary talent, and exceptional leadership in German language education. Dr. LaFountain’s nominators—from Harvard University, Georgetown University, local high schools, and the Goethe-Institut—praised her dedication to the SPARK for German community-engaged teaching program, her advocacy for language learning through pedagogy publications, and her creative, student-centered methods.

Student nominees also highlighted the impact of her teaching. “Dr. LaFountain is committed to creating an environment where students from all walks of life can engage with German language learning,” wrote one student. Another shared that Dr. LaFountain “shows students that education is more than time in the classroom; it is immersive, international, inclusive, and empowering.”

Pascale LaFountain joins German Club on a full-day outing to the Neue Galerie and German Döner Haus in Spring 2025

Avelisse Guzman ’25, currently on a Fulbright in Germany, describes Dr. LaFountain as “one of the most encouraging and inspiring professors I have had during my undergraduate studies,” noting her “boundless creativity” and that she “genuinely wants every student to succeed.”

Bailey Dunn ’25, currently working with the , appreciated the experience of being mentored by LaFountain in the SPARK for German program, saying it “helped me to apply my language skills in a practical environment, allowed me to take on teaching and leadership roles as a student, and was a fulfilling way to connect with the community beyond the university.”

Dr. LaFountain, who also received �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s inaugural Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence in May 2025, said, “I am so excited about this award, most of all because it reflects how much our students can achieve and how playful applied learning can also be highly effective, opening doors for students to pursue multi-lingual and intercultural opportunities of all kinds.”

Read More
Montclair Graduates Win Fulbright Germany and Fulbright Austria Travel Grants
Students of German Visit Devils, Ellis Island, Döner Shop and More

2025-2026 Montclair Fulbright and Fulbright Austria Winners

Avelisse Guzman, a German major planning a career as a German teacher, was selected for both a year-long English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grant from and a year-long United States Teaching Assistant (USTA) position through the separate organization. Facing a challenging “Qual der Wahl” [torture of choice] between two of the most exciting and competitive post-graduate opportunities available to students today, she has chosen to accepted the Fulbright ETA in Germany.

Catie DeRienzo, a linguistics major who took several German courses, has also accepted a Fulbright ETA in Bremen, Germany for the 2025-2026 year. Catie graduated in December 2024 and has been working as an elementary/middle-school school ESL teacher in Randolph, NJ for the past semester. Ready to build on this professional experience, Catie describes the step to pursue the Fulbright as “a career progression I’m super excited about.”

Brian Concannon, a double major in German and Language, Business & Culture with a Concentration in Arabic, was selected for a Fulbright ETA to Sachsen, Germany. Brian has chosen to continue in his position as an admissions counselor at Juniata College.

Bailey Dunn, a double major in German and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, will take on a funded US Teaching Assistantship (USTA) from in the town of Oberwart. Dunn was also selected as a summer participant with the and as a winner of a competitive full scholarship to the prestigious Middlebury Summer German School in Vermont, where they will spend a summer in full language immersion under a strict language pledge.

Other Recent Winners from the Montclair German Program

Emily Wong, �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s last Fulbrighter to go to Germany for 2023-2024, will stay on to teach as a “Fremdsprachenassistentin” (Foreign Language Assistant) in Bavaria, funded by the German education system.

Alli Kodila, who won a USTA grant from Fulbright Austria to teach in a school near Graz for the 2024-2025 year, will stay on for a second funded year in the same position.

While some of these graduates have specific career goals, others are taking this time to decide what might come next, with the guarantee that these fellowships will continue to open doors to multiple career opportunities.

Where These Winners Started

Almost all of these winners began their German learning journey in German 101 as part of ��Ʒ���˸������� University’s two-semester world language graduation requirement. Enjoying the learning experience, each chose to invest themselves in a German minor – or a major – that they either pursued on its own or added onto an existing major at no extra cost and with no extension of their time to graduation.

Many of these students participated in a summer, semester, or year abroad, most of which were supported with grants from the Kade Foundation or through , which supports dozens of students each year.

Exceptional Results

Overall, Montclair had 32 applicants worldwide in this Fulbright cycle, with a total of 3 Fulbright winners (both to Germany), 11 semi-finalists (4 to Germany), and one additional alternate for Peru. The Fulbright Austria program, which is a separate organization, had two Montclair applicants (Bailey Dunn and Avelisse Guzman), both of which became winners.

This total return is unprecedented for Montclair and for the German program in particular.The results reflect the University’s growing presence on the international stage.

What are Fulbright and Fulbright Austria?

With the motto “Connecting People. Connecting Nations,” the organization was founded by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946 with the goal of ensuring strong cultural diplomacy through competitive fully funded international exchanges. Fulbright  has long been considered one of the most prestigious international scholarships in the United States.

There are several types of Fulbright grants, with all winners from the Montclair German program being awarded English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) positions. Each of these English Teaching Assistantship positions offers students a stipend to cover all living costs and consists of 12 hours per week of supervised language instruction in collaboration with a teaching mentor, while the fellows also have time to pursue additional individual projects, with past Montclair grads having used this time to explore funded European MA degrees, develop performance portfolios, or connect with future career opportunities.

Fostering International Diplomacy and Collaboration

These students will join some of the many Montclair graduates who have chosen to pursue graduate degrees in Europe or launched careers between Europe and the United States, bolstering essential international cultural partnership, diplomacy, educational exchange, and economic collaboration.