Are you looking for a way to bring recognition to your program and your school? Do you have a colleague, administrator, or advocate that you would like to thank for their commitment to world languages? One of the benefits of membership to KWLA is that you are eligible to nominate deserving professionals (and be nominated) for our annual awards. KWLA is seeking nominations for awards presented annually to educators and leaders in world languages. Please nominate an outstanding colleague today!
Awards Nominations Guidelines
The Kentucky World Language Association is seeking nominations for awards presented to educators and leaders in world languages!
General Nomination Procedures:
Here are the instructions and procedures for submitting all nominations for all awards:
- STEP 1: Review award eligibility criteria and required award nomination evidence outlined on the page for each award.
- STEP 2: Fill out the online nomination form
- STEP 3: Submit letters of recommendation and other required materials via email to awards@kwla.org
Please complete the steps listed above by June 1st. We encourage members to start the nomination process early as you should estimate about one week to collect all necessary nomination evidence and to submit. Award recipients will be notified by email no later than August 31st and officially recognized at the next KWLA Fall Conference during the Awards Banquet to be held on Saturday of the conference. Awards recipients will receive two complimentary tickets to the Awards Banquet. Additional banquet tickets will be available for purchase.
Have any further questions about awards and awards procedures? Please contact the KWLA Awards Committee Chair anytime at: awards@kwla.org
DISCLAIMER: A press release for winners of the Outstanding Teacher Award will be published within a week after the conference. Press releases for all other awards winners will be available by request only.
The Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award (K-16*) recognizes an individual of the world language teaching profession who has demonstrated long-term achievement and service to the profession. Candidates for this award are automatically those who have been named the “Teacher of the Year” selected and awarded by the executive boards from the Kentucky Chapters of each of their own respective professional language teaching organizations (AATSP, AATF, AATG, KCA, KACLT, KAJLT, KY-NNELL). (*New this year and continuing on in perpetuity, teachers at the post-secondary level will be considered as candidates in this category as well!) The winner of this award will represent KWLA in the running to be named the Regional Teacher of the Year at SCOLT (www.scolt.org) or CSCTFL (www.csctfl.org), and then, potentially, at the national level at ACTFL (www.actfl.org)!
- 2020 – Jennifer Hoban, Louisville Collegiate
- 2019 – Elena Kamenetzky, Eastern High School **
- 2018 – Catherine Del Valle, Russell High School
- 2017 – Christine Hutchins, St. Francis School
- 2016 – Brenna Byrd, University of Kentucky *
- 2015 – Laura Roché Youngworth, Beaumont Middle School *
- 2014 – Miko Momozono, Picadome Elementary
- 2013 – Pamela Pennington, Scott High School
- 2012 – Jana Shultz, Ohio County High School
- 2011 – Maureen Motsinger, Scott High School
- 2010 – Terry Johnson, Western Hills High School
- 2009 – Michele Randolph, Meyzeek Middle School
- 2008 – Linda Zins-Adams, Highland High School *
- 2007 – Sharon Mattingly, Barren County High School
- 2006 – Diane Taylor, Dupont Manual High School & Jean Dudgeon, Elizabethtown KCTCS
- 2005 – Mimi Hagedorn, Bishop Brossart High School & Susan Marnatti, Beaumont Middle School
The Outstanding New Teacher Award (K-16) recognizes outstanding new teachers whose excellence in world language teaching may not be recognized otherwise, and to demonstrate that the profession and KWLA care about new teachers and their professional growth.
- 2020 – Sydney Meaux, Frederick Douglas High School
- 2019 – Amy Chalmers, Prestonsburg High School
- 2018 – María Mato-Fresán, Maxwell Elementary School
- 2017 – Michelle Martin-Sullivan, Floyd Central High School
- 2016 – Jennifer Kennedy, Southern Elementary
- 2015 – Katharine “Abby” Díaz, Meyzeek Middle School
- 2014 – Rebecca Heineke, Scott High School
- 2013 – Vanessa Shepherd, Wellington Elementary School
- 2012 – Grace Cowan, Betsy Lane High School
- 2011 – Megan Johnston, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
- 2010 – Lucas Gravitt, Scott County High School
- 2009 – not awarded
- 2008 – Alice Barrette, East Jessamine High School
- 2007 – Megan Iranpour, Lexington Catholic High School
- 2006 – not awarded
- 2005 – Adriana Melnyk, Newport High School
The Outstanding Administrator Award recognizes a school administrator who has demonstrated exemplary support of world language learning and teaching at his/her institution, community, or in the state.
- 2020 – Stayc Dubravac, University of Kentucky
- 2019 – Carrie Wheeler, UK Confucius Institute
- 2018 – not awarded
- 2017 – Mark Leet, Owingsville Elementary School
- 2016 – Greg Roush, Western Hills High School
- 2015 – Julie Clark, Daviess County Public Schools
- 2014 – not awarded
- 2013 – Jaynae Boateng, Carter G. Woodson Academy
- 2012 – not awarded
- 2011 – John Millay, Superintendent, Cloverport Independent Schools
- 2010 – Stu Silberman, Superintendent – Fayette County Public Schools
- 2009 – Charles Mitchell, Superintendent – Menifee Co. Public Schools & Melissa Wainwright, Principal – Frankfort High School
- 2008 – Lu Young, Superintendent – Jessamine County Public Schools
- 2007 – Roger Marcum, Superintendent – Marion County Public Schools and
Janice Lantz, Superintendent – Nelseon County Public Schools - 2006 – Milton Grimes, Kentucky Institute for International Studies
- 2005 – John Hudson, Principal – Atherton High School
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual of the world language teaching profession who has demonstrated long-term achievement and service to KWLA and to the profession – locally, statewide, regionally, and/or nationally.
- 2020 – Laura McGee, Western Kentucky University
- 2019 – Sharon Mattingly, Barren County High School
- 2018 – Maureen Motsinger, Scott High School
- 2017 – Theodore Fiedler, University of Kentucky
- 2016 – not awarded
- 2015 – Terri Coke, Daviess County High School
- 2014 – Cathy Scaife, Lexington Catholic High School
- 2013 – Judith Conde, Western Hills High School
- 2012 – Jean Dudgeon, Elizabethtown Community College
- 2011 – Jacque Bott Van Houten, Kentucky Department of Education
- 2010 – John Secor, Morehead State University
- 2009 – Joan Jahnige, Kentucky Educational Television
- 2008 – Jean Amick, Kentucky Country Day & Mimi Hagedorn, Bishop Brossart High School
- 2007 – Estelle Bayer, Madison Central High School
- 2006 – Milton Grimes, Murray State University
- 2005 – Linda Pickle, Western Kentucky University
- 2004 – not awarded
- 2003 – Mary Jo Netherton, Morehead State University
- 2002 – Ruth Styles, Kentucky Educational Television
- 2001 – Rosemary Weddington, Berea High School & EKU
- 1999 – Jacquie Spurlock, Eastern Kentucky University
- 1998 – Thomas P. Baldwin, Western Kentucky University
The Amici Linguarum (pronounced “ah mee kee leen gwah room”) Award recognizes an individual or organization not directly involved in the teaching of world languages that has made a significant contribution to the profession.
- 2020- Language Access Team, Governor Beshear’s administration
- 2019 – World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana
- 2018 – Lynn Fors, Access Language Solutions
- 2017 – Dr. Michael Dailey, Fayette County Public Schools
- 2016 – Brandi Larkey, High Marks Center, Lexington Catholic High School
- 2015 – Valerie Hendley, Fun with Languages
- 2014 – Dr. Huajing Maske, Confucius Institute, University of Kentucky
- 2013 – not awarded
- 2012 – Fayette County Board of Education
- 2011 – Kentucky Board of Education
- 2010 – Representative Ben Chandler, Kentucky (6th District)
- 2009 – not awarded
- 2008 – Margo Jang, Festival Director – Northern Kentucky Univ.
- 2007 – not awarded
- 2006 – Elaine Jarchow, Dean of Education – Northern Kentucky Univ.
- 2005 – Peter Fricke, Tente International GmbH
Thank you! Merci! ¡Gracias! Gratias! Danke!
謝謝 ! ありがとう !
NOTICE: The KWLA Awards Committee in consultation with the Executive Board may elect to not present an award in any of the categories mentioned above for a given year.
