Sustaining Programs is Hard Work

Originally, I had planned to update this blog every two weeks or so. Somehow, the work of the semester got in the way, and more than three months have passed! During those three months I followed the status of German programs very closely. The economic crisis is impacting pre-collegiate and post-secondary education in unprecedented ways. Sustaining programs has become a full time job. Still, I trust that it is a job that you find rewarding.

Last week I was invited to give a speech at the German Festessen at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The German program there, in the able hands of Linda Zins-Adams (2009 SCOLT Teacher of the Year), is thriving. All students who had participated in the Northern Kentucky World Language regional festival and the Kentucky World Language state festival were acknowledged, as were students who had participated in German Day at the University of Cincinnati, and the Freedom Without Walls events at Northern Kentucky University. Here are additional highlights from the Festessen awards: 44 students were awarded AATG Certificates of Merit for outstanding performance on the National German Exam; Rebekah Agard was recognized as a Study Trip winner; 22 students were inducted into the German Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Phi; an additional 9 students were inducted into Jr. Delta Epsilon Phi; 9 graduating seniors were presented with Honor Cords. Frau Zins-Adams also honored and thanked those 9 seniors for, in most cases, 5 years of hard work studying German through the AP level (and they had to get up early the next morning to take the AP test). She created a stirring tribute to her students:
http://animoto.com/play/uS6xP99qEHfhiO74M0b0IA

It is clear that Frau Zins-Adams has put in countless hours to help her students excel in German. As a witness to this wonderful celebration of student achievement, I honestly can say that it is rewarding work for all parties.