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University of North Georgia (168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø) student Rachel Wilson has earned the Chinese Language Flagship Certified Global Professional with Distinction certificate. This is the highest level of proficiency a 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø student has achieved as part of its Chinese Language Flagship program.

Started in 2011, the 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø Chinese Language Flagship prepares students to achieve a professional level of Chinese proficiency.

Wilson, a senior pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals, spent the summer working with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and has a federal government job lined up for January 2022 once she graduates in December 2021.

The Stone Mountain, Georgia, resident won a Boren Scholarship and became the first 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø student to complete the Chinese Flagship Domestic Immersion Capstone at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California.

She said the support of 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø's Chinese faculty, the individualized Flagship tutoring, and study abroad opportunities have made all the difference. As a Flagship peer tutor and student ambassador this fall, Wilson is sharing her experience and language learning tips with her fellow students.

Dr. Tianyu Qin, academic director of 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø's Chinese Language Flagship and assistant professor of Chinese, was not surprised by Wilson's success.

"Rachel is truly an outstanding language learner who always sets high standards for herself," Qin said. "She's hard-working and personable, and she's willing to help her peers."

Dr. Ran Chen, program coordinator of 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø's Chinese Language Flagship, also praised Wilson's approach.

"She will always do the extra work to achieve her goals," Chen said.

Wilson said being a younger student in some of her Chinese classes early in her time at 168¿ª½±Íø¹ÙÍø was an extra motivating factor.

"It really pushed me to do better and prove that I belonged," Wilson said.