Penn State Student Wins Top Honors at the 2026 5th Mid-Atlantic Korean Speech Contest

Sarah Shahrir, a senior majoring in Computer Science at Penn State, won both First Place in the Advanced Level and the Grand Prize at the 5th Mid-Atlantic Korean Speech Contest, held on April 10, 2026, and hosted by George Washington University.

More than 20 students from universities across the region participated in the competition, including American University, Carnegie Mellon University, Drexel University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, James Madison University, Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Virginia. Among this strong group of competitors, Sarah earned the distinction of receiving the two highest awards.

Her story reflects a unique and inspiring journey in Korean language learning:

“My name is Sarah Shahrir, an international student from Malaysia and a senior majoring in Computer Science at Penn State. I began learning Korean informally about 12 years ago, mainly to enjoy dramas and variety shows without subtitles. At the time, I would occasionally look up new or interesting vocabulary, but without a foundation in grammar, I found it difficult to express my own thoughts. This led me to enroll in my first formal Korean language course last semester. What motivates me most is learning about Korean culture through the language, as it reveals traditions and values deeply rooted in its history.

My speech for the Mid-Atlantic Korean Speech Contest focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Korean language learning. While discussions about the importance of language learning are common, they are rarely approached from the perspective of someone already deeply engaged with the culture. Through my speech, I aimed to share my perspective as someone who understands both the potential of AI and the value of learning Korean.

I emphasized that, even in the age of AI, it is still essential to develop language skills through real human interaction, as there are aspects of communication that can only be learned through direct experience. For example, in Korean, telling someone directly that their face is “small” might sound unusual or even inappropriate in English, but in Korean, it can be a compliment, even in relatively formal contexts. These kinds of cultural and pragmatic nuances are difficult to fully understand without real-life interaction.

Receiving this award is especially meaningful to me because it reflects a journey that did not follow a traditional path. It reassures me that even an unstructured beginning can lead to meaningful growth and achievement, and it gives me confidence to continue exploring Korean on my own after graduation.

After graduation, I plan to pursue research in AI in medicine. Although this field is not directly related to Korean, I believe my language learning experience will continue to help me connect with people from diverse backgrounds and communicate ideas across cultures.”

Lan Kim, Associate Teaching Professor of Korean and Coordinator of Korean Language Program at Penn State, shared her thoughts on Sarah’s achievement:

“Sarah’s accomplishment is especially meaningful in today’s AI-driven world, where access to language seems easier than ever, yet true understanding still depends on human connection. Her Korean language journey and her speech reflect that learning a language is not just about information, but about engaging with people, culture, and context in meaningful ways. We are incredibly proud of her achievement.”

This achievement highlights the strength of Penn State’s Korean language program and the dedication of its students.