| |  | | Fall 2020 |  | | | 
The Junior Year Experience of the Fifties
Eleanor (Wahlbrinck) Oliver (JYM 1957-58 and JYM 1958-59) shares her detailed study abroad memories of a long-gone era in Munich, where she spent her junior and senior year with JYM. She studied art and German and happened to be the illustrator of the Grüss Gott 1957-58 yearbook from her first year. We are pleased to also share her wonderful illustrations from that publication. | 
A seven month adventure and a sudden departure
Lyric Elliot (JYM 2019-20), Wayne State University, reflects on her time in Munich on the program and the sudden conclusion to her study abroad, sadly interrupted by COVID-19. Lyric was an exceptionally active student, who came to Munich early to join the LMU intensive language prep course. During the semester she had multiple language partners and friends and joined both the LMU choir and orchestra. She also had an internship already set up at an Apotheke for the second semester during the break when she had to suddenly pack everything to fly home along with the rest of her cohort. This reflection was printed in the JYM Illustrated 2019-20 class yearbook. | 
Missing Munich after life-changing study abroad
Sam Sjoberg (2019-20), American University, returned home from JYM much sooner than expected. He relates here how his promising study abroad year got cut short by Covid 19 when JYM, along with all other study abroad programs in Europe, was canceled for the second semester. Sam cherished his time abroad despite and made the most of it. He was one of two Klassensprecher for his group and set up to embark on an internship with the Freie Wähler in the Maximilianeum. The following comes from an article he wrote for his class yearbook JYM Illustrated 2019-20. | | Spotlights |  | From JYM to the Pentagon: JYM alumna’s career in transatlantic relations Maya Malkani (JYM 1999-2000) just passed her 20 year anniversary since JYM. She has been working at the Secretary of Defense for more than 10 years and is currently the Director of Global Outreach and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China. She writes here of her fascinating journey from JYM into a decade’s long career in transatlantic relations. | | | Our journey back to Munich Twenty-five years later two JYM alumni return to Munich with the state department. Andy and Emily (Davis) Utz (1995-96) met in their junior year and ended up joining the foreign service as a married couple. We are pleased to have them share their story here with JYM of how they currently ended up at the U.S. consulate in Munich |  | |  | Studying German language and Riesling in the wine region of Rheingau After returning from JYM and graduating with a BA degree in Global Education, Elsa Ericson (JYM 2013-14) gradually discovered her passion for wine-making which led her from Sonoma County to Rheingau. Her time in Munich and the language skill acquired were her ticket to a spot at the University of Wiesbaden for a formal education in wine-making. Here she tells of her journey back to the land of Riesling! | | | Retired in Bavaria! Don Verity (JYM 1968-69) is an active member of his class who has reunions quite regularly. He and his German wife just recently moved back to spend their retirement years in Munich. He writes here of his very long relationship to the German language and Germany and the challenges in returning for good. |  | | | | | | | | | Achievements |  | A Wild and Windy Road: 25 Years as JYM Program Director Dr. Mark Ferguson, JYM Program Director from 1995-2020, retired last May after 25 years at the helm. In this article, Mark gives us a unique view into the intricate program history on his watch as director. Read on for an insider look at JYM and Mark’s remarkable role as director in his own words! | | | | | | | | | | |
