2024 Award of Excellence in Modern Languages

The recipient of the Award of Excellence in Modern Languages and Literatures must have demonstrated appreciation and dedication to the study of languages, literatures, and cultures. This year’s winner has constantly and indefatigably strived to become a true global citizen.

This year’s awardee of Excellence in Modern Languages and Literatures is Alonso Faure-Ribes.  A native of Spain, he came to Loyola in 2020 to study and to play basketball for the Greyhounds. For him, Loyola became not just a university but a home away from home, where he continued to excel both on the court and in the classroom. His love for languages has been a constant presence in his life. He started learning English at school but perfectioned it when he moved to the United States; he learned Catalan through immersion; and at Loyola, he has excelled in a variety of courses in French, Italian, and Portuguese. Moreover, he embarked on a journey of self-study alongside two Serbian basketball teammates, and in just two years, he immersed himself in the language and its culture, mastering Serbian at an advanced level (He also plays the piano). He is a true polyglot who embodies the Ignatian values of discipline, zeal for learning, compassion, and teamwork. 

Congratulations to Alonso on this well-deserved award!