{"686757":{"#nid":"686757","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Passport to Success: Global Itinerary Leads CS Grad to Prestigious International Designation ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen computer science (CS) major \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/amberephraim\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAmber Ephraim\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E walks across the Commencement stage this month, her diploma will bear a distinction earned by only a few Georgia Tech graduates each year: the International Plan (IP) designation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEphraim is one of eight Georgia Tech students to receive the IP designation this semester. She is joined by CS major \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/andrwwang\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrew Wang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who is also graduating this month with the IP designation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s IP designation demonstrates a student\u2019s \u201cstrong, intentional commitment to global education,\u201d according to \u003Cstrong\u003EHeidi Fiedler\u003C\/strong\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s IP academic manager.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe added that employers and graduate programs see IP as evidence of adaptability, intercultural communication skills, and global perspectives. \u201cIt meaningfully differentiates a Georgia Tech degree and highlights a graduate\u2019s readiness to thrive in a global environment,\u0022 Fiedler said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEphraim said that her curiosity about the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ip.oie.gatech.edu\/home\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInternational Plan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E began during her second year after switching to CS. She discovered the program while browsing Georgia Tech\u2019s website and liked the idea of a long-term global experience, so she decided to go for it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe IP program requires students to complete three globally focused courses, be proficient in a non-English language, and spend at least 26 weeks abroad. Ephraim exceeded the requirement by completing three international experiences:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA study-abroad semester at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/europe.gatech.edu\/en\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech-Europe\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in Metz, France\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA two-month internship in Bengaluru, India\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlas.gatech.edu\/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular\u0026amp;id=10007\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eexchange semester at the University of Sydney in Australia\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETara Berry\u003C\/strong\u003E is the IP academic coordinator for the College of Computing. She said Ephraim\u2019s diverse experiences studying and working abroad are what set her apart from her peers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAmber is unique because she has international experience in studying abroad and interning abroad. This is enough time overseas to truly say she has more experience than the average student at navigating work relationships across international locations and different cultures,\u201d Berry said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEphraim traveled to France during the summer of 2023 for her first study abroad experience. She immersed herself in French, which she chose for her IP language requirement. She practiced in everyday interactions and often helped classmates navigate conversations at shops or service counters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI became a regular at one Japanese restaurant close to my dorm and would always talk with the workers about my week,\u201d she said in a speech delivered earlier this semester.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer next experience, a two-month summer 2024 internship at Infosys India, proved more challenging and transformative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking in Bengaluru required adjusting to new cultural expectations around communication and workplace relationships. Ephraim said that she and her coworkers would occasionally misinterpret one another. The experience prompted her to develop strategies\u2014such as sketching diagrams\u2014to confirm understanding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe also learned to adapt to a more community-oriented work culture, where colleagues openly discuss personal well-being and regularly socialize outside the office. The result, she said, was a stronger ability to navigate multicultural environments and ask precise follow-up questions to prevent miscommunication.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEphraim arrived in Sydney in February 2025 for a semester-long study exchange. Building on her previous experiences abroad, she says she was prepared to approach the experience with more independence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of her goals in Sydney was to broaden her academic portfolio. So, Ephraim, who graduated from Villa Rica High School in 2021, enrolled in virtual reality (VR) design and cybersecurity courses. She also joined the university\u2019s Sustainability Program, volunteered in a community garden, and participated in a series of talks and tours focused on environmental issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe semester, she said, helped her refine her interests in computing and gave her \u201cnew hobbies and skills that I never would have thought I would like.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcross all three experiences, Ephraim developed stronger interpersonal skills and greater confidence speaking with new people. She attributes this personal growth to being pushed outside her comfort zone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve never been super extroverted,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I am more comfortable talking to people I haven\u2019t met before. I can strike up a conversation and look people in the eye.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese skills, along with the global awareness emphasized by the International Plan, will support her next steps.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter graduation, Ephraim plans to build a portfolio for a career in game development. She hopes to begin creating her first original game soon\u2014an exploratory, short-format project that blends fantasy elements with themes of self-reflection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI want to get started on my own passion project as soon as I graduate,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEphraim recommends starting early and approaching each experience intentionally for students considering the International Plan. For those who are unsure of their long-term goals, she believes IP is still a good option.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cExtended time abroad provides perspective that is difficult to gain otherwise. It opens you up to a lot of new opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s an excellent character-building experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt shows a lot of time, effort, and dedication. I feel very proud to look back on it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Computing has created a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/international-certification-and-designation-undergraduates\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewebpage for students who are interested in the International Plan program or the Global Engagement Certificate\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENew alumna \u003Cstrong\u003EAmber Ephraim \u003C\/strong\u003Eis from Villa Rica, Georgia, and one of two CS majors who have earned Georgia Tech\u2019s International Plan designation this semester.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New alumna Amber Ephraim is from Villa Rica, Georgia and she\u0027s ready \u0022to thrive in a global environment.\u0022"}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-12-05 14:38:27","changed_gmt":"2025-12-10 15:33:47","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678762":{"id":"678762","type":"image","title":"New alumna Amber Ephraim is one of two CS majors earning GT\u2019s International Plan designation this semester. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENew alumna Amber Ephraim is one of two CS majors earning GT\u2019s International Plan designation this semester. Photo courtesy of Amber Ephraim\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764945525","gmt_created":"2025-12-05 14:38:45","changed":"1764945525","gmt_changed":"2025-12-05 14:38:45","alt":"Campus photo of New alumna Amber Ephraim, 1 of 2 CS majors earning GT\u2019s International Plan designation this semester","file":{"fid":"262836","name":"Amber_Ephraim_grad_pic_3.2-ratio_1.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/Amber_Ephraim_grad_pic_3.2-ratio_1.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/Amber_Ephraim_grad_pic_3.2-ratio_1.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":201431,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/05\/Amber_Ephraim_grad_pic_3.2-ratio_1.JPG?itok=XSBLrqDX"}},"678787":{"id":"678787","type":"image","title":"Graduating CS Major Andrew Wang outside the Taj Mahal","body":null,"created":"1765215968","gmt_created":"2025-12-08 17:46:08","changed":"1765215968","gmt_changed":"2025-12-08 17:46:08","alt":"Graduating CS Major Andrew Wang outside the Taj Mahal","file":{"fid":"262865","name":"Andrew-Wang-2025grad.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Andrew-Wang-2025grad.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Andrew-Wang-2025grad.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":73342,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/08\/Andrew-Wang-2025grad.jpeg?itok=c_bkyzo5"}}},"media_ids":["678762","678787"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"194248","name":"International Education"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"194473","name":"graduation 2025"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:albert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu \u0022\u003EBen Snedeker\u003C\/a\u003E, Communications Mgr. II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}