WWU graduate and Seattle resident earns prestigious DAAD scholarship

Recent Western Washington University graduate and University of Hamburg student Caitlin Golden received a DAAD Graduate Scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Golden, a resident of Seattle, is being awarded $20,000 for her enrollment in the University of Hamburg’s German Sign Language program as well as a two-month intensive language course.

The DAAD Graduate Scholarship provides highly qualified individuals with an opportunity to do independent study in Germany or to complete a full Master's degree program at a German university.

Golden is the first former student from WWU to receive the scholarship, and she completed the application process while still at Western. She worked closely with the late Christine Compston, former director of the Fellowship Office.

Golden received her bachelor’s degree in German after graduating from WWU last winter. She is fluent in American Sign Language and has been involved in the Deaf Communities of Seattle and Bellingham for 10 years. After completing the University of Hamburg’s two-year master’s degree, Golden plans to receive her Doctorate of Philosophy and become a sign-language linguist.