Dean's Medalist Celeste Bryant earns Fulbright award to return to the country that started it all

By Thit Thit T Win, ASU News
April 27, 2026

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.

Before Celeste Bryant arrived at Arizona State University, she had already lived in Germany.

As a high school student from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Bryant spent the 2021–22 school year in Markkleeberg, outside Leipzig, through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program. That year set her on a path toward language, teaching and cultural exchange.

Bryant is graduating this spring as the Dean's Medalist for The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' School of International Letters and Cultures with a degree in German. She has also received the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award for Germany for the 2026–27 school year.

Beyond German, Bryant studied French, Arabic, Romanian and Spanish, supported by the New American University Scholarship across all eight semesters. She channeled that multilingual passion into leadership as president of the SILC Attachés, a multilingual student club, organizing a fashion show in her first year and expanding it into a combined fashion and talent show in her second. Both events brought students together to celebrate languages and cultures on stage.

"It doesn't take a lot of people to create a positive impact," Bryant said. "All it takes is just a few people who are interested in learning about something new."

She called the event one of her favorite memories from her time at ASU.

Bryant taught German at the ASU Language Fair, ASU Open Door and as an assistant in German 101. She returned to Germany in December 2024 through an ASU study abroad program in Berlin and received the Austrian Society Outstanding Major Award for German in April 2025. She is currently completing a teaching internship in high school German classes at Chandler Preparatory Academy.

Before commencement, Bryant shared more about what drew her to teaching, the professors who shaped her and what comes next.

Question: What keeps drawing you to teaching?

Answer: I am very passionate about learning about the world and learning languages. Teaching gives me the opportunity to share my passion and help inspire other students to study language and culture. It feels like I am giving back when I help students learn German. I also love having the opportunity to inspire students to continue learning languages, because my teachers inspired me the same way when I was their age.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: Sara Lee. She taught me that it is always OK to make mistakes. It's part of the learning process and you can't grow without them. She also taught me that if you set your mind to a goal, you can achieve it. She is one of the kindest people I have ever met and I am so lucky to have had her as a professor.

Q: How has your liberal arts degree prepared you for the future?

A: It helped make me a very well-rounded person. I have strong communication skills. I learned how to be a great leader. I learned how to be creative and problem-solve. I am ready for anything the future might throw at me.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: When I first came to ASU, I was not quite sure what to expect. I was a little nervous and everything was new to me. But now I am so glad I chose ASU. I had the opportunity to do everything I love and learn about everything that interested me, and it prepared me for my career in ways I can't even imagine.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I want to work in international education, whether that is tourism, teaching or working with exchange students. I have also considered pursuing a master's degree in communication, education or German.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share?

A: I would love to thank my dad and my late mom, because without you guys, I would not be the person I am today.

This story originally appeared on ASU News.