Concordia Language Village

Triton student earns top honor of language study trip

BYFIELD — Casey Ross, a freshman at Triton Regional High School, was recently chosen as the recipient of the American Association of Teachers of French, French Embassy, Concordia Language Villages Scholarship offered to Principal Kevin McLaughlin for his recognition of being named AATF Administrator of the Year.

Ross will enjoy a free, two-week stay this summer, including airfare, at Concordia Language Villages, a language and cultural immersion program in Minnesota. The award, sponsored by Concordia Language Villages, the AATF and the French Embassy, is valued at $2,500.

"After careful review of student applications and interviewing the candidates, Casey was chosen as the recipient of this award," McLaughlin said. "Casey is an outstanding French student and a valued member of the Triton Regional High School community. She will represent the school and Triton community well."

Last December, McLaughlin was named Cultural Service Administrator of the Year for 2010 by the AATF. The annual award recognizes a school principal or superintendent who actively supports the study of French, and includes the award of the free trip.

Students interested in the trip filled out applications indicating why they were interested in becoming proficient in the language and how knowing the language might make a difference in their lives. They also had to explain why they wanted to participate in the Concordia Language Villages Program.

Over the last couple of months, McLaughlin, along with the school's foreign language teachers, have been reviewing those applications and interviewing students interested in taking the trip. Ross was selected in May.

"Casey is a highly motivated, intellectually curious student with a strong work ethic and positive energy that is contagious," French teacher Regina Sternlicht wrote in her assessment of whether Ross would be a good candidate for the trip. "Casey is acutely aware of her surroundings; she consistently asks poignant questions that are helpful not only to herself, but to her classmates; and she is a team player. As a freshman, Casey would benefit tremendously from this experience, all the while representing her school well."

Ross will make her journey to the Minnesota language village in July.

She is very excited about the opportunity to attend the program. "I feel like I could benefit greatly from this immersion program that seems to guarantee that with hard work and an open mind about everything, the trip will truly be able make you feel like you are living the French experience," she said in her application.

Coon Rapids students finish 'zehr gut' | ABC Newspapers

Coon Rapids High School students studying German finished in top form after taking the National Standardized German Exam, given every year by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG).

In fact, Charlotte Kuntz did so well she was invited to interview for an all-expense-paid summer study trip to Concordia Language Village.

Following the interviews, Kuntz was awarded second prize, a scholarship that entitles her to spend a month this summer studying German at Concordia Language Village in Minnesota.

Concordia Language Villages provide immersion camping experiences, said CRHS German teacher Judy Zewers.

“They try to create an experience similar to what one could experience in Germany: German food, activities, German is taught and spoken, etc.,” Zewers said.

And so, with her second-place prize, Kuntz will have an opportunity to be fully immersed in German culture and traditions.

While Kuntz and classmate Stephanie Kangas finished the national exam in the 90th-100th percentile, other classmates scored as follows:

• 70th-79th percentile: Elizabeth Penshorn, Clare Polak, Breonna Kranz, Alexander Wiser, Claire Pitleck, Ashely Koehler and Kelsey Harms.

• 80th-89th percentile: Michael Teter and Sara Kleba.

Those CRHS students and others who finished the national exam above the 80th percentile were honored at an AATG sponsored banquet at St. John’s University.

During the April 16 banquet event, all the German students were awarded prizes donated by AATG, the German government, the Austrian Cultural Forum and Langenscheidt Publishers.

Founded in 1926, the AATG is the only national organization representing German teachers at all levels of instruction.

The AATG is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the teaching of language, literature and culture of the German-speaking countries.

Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.