Title: Speaker of Four Languages Who Struggled in High School Wins Annual McTighe Prize

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– McTighe Prize-winner Emilio Joubert (C’19)will speak to the incoming class of first-year and transfer students at New Student Convocation Aug. 26 about finding success at Georgetown and beyond. The prize is awarded every year to an outstanding undergraduate who has demonstrated achievement in scholarship and service to the university and its surrounding community.

Major: Italian; minor in Spanish

Hometown: Lawrence, Massachusetts

High School: Notre Dame Cristo Rey

Languages: Spanish, English, Italian and Portuguese

How he spent the summer: Joubert worked for a second summer in Instagram’s San Francisco office helping to identify strategic interests, events and figures to elevate Instagram’s profile in the United States and select global markets.

“It’s been very valuable to have my four languages because I could launch and consume content on Instagram and communicate with people who maybe other people on the team couldn’t unless they were from a different country,” says Joubert.

How he selected his major: From a young age, Joubert would listen to his great-grandparents, who were children of Italian immigrants, speak the language.

“I wanted to be able to connect with that side of my family more,” says Joubert, who is of Italian and Puerto Rican descent. “I decided to learn Italian and ended up just loving the major so much the classes and the teachers.”

On winning the McTighe Prize: “I’m extremely grateful to have the chance to share my voice in this way. Five or six years ago I never thought that I’d have a platform like this – I’m just so completely humbled and excited and honored,” hesays.

Campus Activities:

Baker Scholars Program
Writing Center
Community Scholars Program
Georgetown Scholarship Program
After-School Kids (ASK) Program

Growing up, Joubert looked up to superheroes, but lost faith in them at 14 after his mother died and the family lost their home and had to stave off homelessness. But he discovered he could count on what he calls “real-life superheroes,” including his grandmother and the president of his high school, who worked with the often struggling young student.

“I want to impart on the incoming class … that they should do whatever they can to make sure that they’re giving back to somebody else in their own community,” he says.

A professor’s view: Maya Roth, the Della Rosa Distinguished Professor of Theater and who led the McTighe Prize Committee, says she was struck by Joubert’s “perseverance, charisma and profound commitment to making the world and Georgetown better.”

“Emilio modeled a moving combination of care for the whole self and social justice concern, social entrepreneurship and love of learning,” she says.