Awards
Student of the Year Awards
The High School Student of the Year (SOTY) and College Student of the Year (CSOTY) Awards are presented to students who have
demonstrated excellence in the study and promotion of German at a high school or college/university in the state of Georgia. The chapter reserves the right not to award this
honor every year.
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Criteria and Procedure
- The nominee's teacher/professor must be a member of AATG in good standing.
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The nominee must be a junior or senior who has been an outstanding student of German. When selecting the winner, seniors may be given preference.
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The nominee should have plans to continue with their study of German.
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The nominee should have a keen interest in the culture of German-speaking countries.
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Applicants will meet with the committee at the State German Convention (Friday evening). Failure to attend this convention will result in disqualification. Applicants will be asked to write an extemporaneous composition as well as converse in German with the Selection Committee.
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The Selection Committee is composed of members who have no direct connection with any of the candidates. The AATG-GA Testing and Awards Chair will select committee members and chair the committee. The chapter president may be an ex-officio member.
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The winner will be announced at the Awards Ceremony at the State German Convention.
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The winner is required to attend the AATG-GA Awards Ceremony in early May where they will receive the actual award.
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The winner must upon completion of their stay in Germany submit by September 1 of that same year a report for publication on the website of the AATG-GA Chapter.
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The winner must give permission to AATG-GA Chapter to use their photographs in its electronic publications.
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Instructions for the Nominee
- Check your calendar to make sure you will be able to fulfill all agreed obligations.
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Print out the SOTY APPLICATION FORM (for the high school student of the year) or the CSOTY APPLICATION FORM (for the College Student of the Year), complete it, and submit it to the Testing and Awards Chair by the announced deadline.
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Retain copies of your application and this page for your records.
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Communicate with your instructor who will be notified about the Awards Ceremony and all other requirements you are expected to meet.
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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
2024 Hallie Phillips (South Forsyth)
2023 Noah McDaniel (Parkview)
2022 Katherine Yang (South Forsyth)
2021 Jesus Lopez Alvarez (Collins Hill)
2020 Maggie Lonsway (South Forsyth)
2019 Ayonica Bhattacharya (South Forsyth)
2018 Christine Yang (South Forsyth)
2018 Trey Jackson (Parkview)
2017 Matthew Powell (South Forsyth)
2016 Zachary Sanchez (North Gwinnett)
2015 Dae Gun Chung Kim (North Gwinnett)
2014 Hildana Haileyesus (Parkview)
2013 Chelsea Morris (The Walker School)
2012 Andy Wong (Northview)
2011 Justin Meyer (Northview)
2010 Allison Kuester (Parkview)
2009 Tiffany Diebold (Lakeside)
2008 Kate Hardin (Parkview)
2007 Elliot Sturmlauf (Parkview)
2006 Lorenza Cazares (Collins Hill)
2005 Christen Hicks (The Walker School)
2004 Allison Gray (Screven County)
2003 Meredith Conrad (Lovett)
2002 Alan Hoffman (Marietta)
2001 Karin Mader (The Walker School)
2000 Tiffany Lamphere (McEachern)
1999 Wes Withrow (Screven County)
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COLLEGE STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
2024 Kristina Hilko (Georgia Tech)
2023 Hannah Kreuziger (Emory)
2022 Christopher Ballenger (Georgia Tech)
2021 Max Wang (Emory)
2020 Brandon Wyatt (UGA)
2019 Samantha Baker (Kennesaw State)
2016 Aaron Fuchs (Kennesaw State)
Teacher/Professor
of the Year Awards
The Teacher/Professor of the Year Awards are presented to members of AATG-GA who have distinguished themselves as instructors of German either through the performance of their students or through exceptional efforts to enhance the teaching of German in the state of Georgia.
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The recipients are chosen by the chapter's Executive Board and committees appointed by the Testing and Awards Chair.
Candidates must have been full-time, regular (or life) AATG members in good standing for at least two academic years prior to the application deadline. Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague, a current or former student, or anyone else with direct knowledge of the candidate’s professional qualifications. Nominations/applications must be submitted to the Testing and Awards Chair by the announced deadline.
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The award will be presented at the annual AATG-GA Honors Ceremony, usually held on the first Saturday of May.
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TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
2024 Rebecca Mooney (North Gwinnett)
2023 Ashley McCarty (Centennial)
2022 Stefani Legall-Riddle (South Forsyth)
2021 Timo Snider (Decatur)
2020 Jennifer Lane (Collins Hill)
2019 Bill Morgan (The Walker School)
2018 Jonas Strecker (South Forsyth)
2017 William Bryan (Sandy Creek)
2016 Sanja Knezovic (Parkview)
2015 Rita Prescott (Union Grove)
2014 Michaela Claus-Nix (South Forsyth)
2013 Patrick Wallace (Spalding)
2011 Dot Kemptner (Northview)
2010 Rita Prescott (Union Grove)
2009 Jill Tweedy (Collins Hill)
2009 Sanja Knezovic (Parkview)
2008 Janet Ward (The Walker School)
2007 David Jahner (Brookwood)
2006 Cassandra Goolsby (North Gwinnett)
2005 Stacey Cummings (Peachtree Ridge)
2004 Kevin Keough (McIntosh)
2003 David Jahner (Brookwood)
2002 Janet Ward (The Walker School)
2001 Susan Crooks (Pope)
2000 Glen Peppel (The Lovett School)
1999 Jennifer Schultz (Browns Mill Elementary)
1998 Ava Wyatt (Dalton)
1997 Rebecca Hauseman (Sprayberry)
1996 Jana Müller-Schobel (Norcross)
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PROFESSORS OF THE YEAR
2024 Sabine Smith (Kennesaw State University)
2023 Horst Kurz (Georgia Southern University)
2022 Daniel Walter (Emory University)
2021 Peter Höyng (Emory University)
2020 Jenny Strakovsky (Georgia Tech)
2019 Sabine Smith (Kennesaw State University)
2018 Britta Kallin (Georgia Tech)
2017 Inge DiBella (University of Georgia)
2016 Monika Schulte (Piedmont College)
2010 Horst Kurz (Georgia Southern University)
2008 Robin Huff (Georgia State University)
2005 Muriel Cormican (West Georgia State)
2003 Christine Anton (Berry College)
2002 Tom Cooper (University of Georgia)
2001 Bettina Cothran (Georgia Tech)
2000 Irmgard Immel (Morehouse College)
1999 Edward Weintraut (Mercer University)
1998 Horst Kurz (Georgia Southern University)
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