News Release

February 13, 2023

NEBRASKA WORLD LANGUAGE DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED

The Nebraska Department of Education is recognizing 49 Distinguished World Language Scholars during World Language Week 2023.

The World Language Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes Nebraska students for their leadership in language learning, commitment to language study, appreciation for cultural diversity, and communicative competence. Students were nominated by their teachers and submitted a portfolio.

“Learning a world language means strengthening one’s understanding of humans across all backgrounds, ethnicities, and time periods,” said Bellevue West High senior and World Language Distinguished Scholar Nathan Walther. “Learning a world language is an essential skill that is necessary in the diverse world we live in today, because it builds much needed connections between people amidst much divisiveness.”

For more information about World Language Week and the World Language Distinguished Scholar Award visit: https://www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage/world-language-week/.

 

 

High Honors

 

CHINESE LANGUAGE LEARNING (Public School)

Balele Kanunde

Chinese Novice (Levels 1&2)

Burke High School (Omaha)

Ching Yuk Lam, Teacher

 

Danielle Sams

Chinese Novice (Levels 1&2)

North Star (Lincoln)

Coral Su, Teacher

 

Carmen Vega García

Chinese Novice (Levels 1&2)

Omaha South Magnet High School

Gao Min Palmer, Teacher

 

Kadynce Drake

Chinese Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Scottsbluff Public Schools

Yi Ju Ting, Teacher

 

Maria Victoria Bardon Soto

Chinese Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Burke High School

Ching Yuk Lam, Teacher

 

 
 

CHINESE LANGUAGE LEARNING (Non-Public School)

Jade Xia

Chinese Novice (Levels 1&2)

Lincoln Chinese Academy

Jane Li, Teacher

 

Evan Dong

Chinese Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Lincoln Chinese Academy

Jane Li, Teacher

 

Tony Wang

Chinese Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Lincoln Chinese Academy

Winston Hou, Teacher

 

 

FRENCH LANGUAGE LEARNING

Averi Hogue

French Level 5, AP, IB

Benington High School

Amy Barbe, Teacher

 

Feryal Akpo-Idrissou

French Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Lincoln Northwest High School

Alexandra Van Zandt, Teacher

 

Scout Dollison

French Nonice (Levels 1&2)

Omaha Central High School

Elizabeth Steinauer, Teacher

 

 
GERMAN LANGUAGE LEARNING
Daxton Graham

German Novice (Levels 1&2)

Fremont High School

Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher

 

McKenna Olson

German Interemediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Fremont High School

Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher

 

 

LATIN LANGUAGE LEARNING
Grace Peng

Latin Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Millard North Highschool

Julia Kolander, Teacher

 

SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING – High School
Averi Hogue

Spanish Novice (Levels 1&2)

Elmwood- Murdock Public Schools

Manuel Gonzalez Camina, Teacher

 

Barrett Eggerling

Spanish Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

Crete Public Schools

Angela Wagoner, Teacher

 

Caleb Faucher

Spanish Level 5+, AP, IB

Bennington Public Schools

Tasha Horn, Teacher

 

Emily Cornwell

Spanish Novice (Levels 1&2)

ESU 5- Gothenburg

Kelly Garcia, Teacher

 

Grace Maunu

Spanish Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4)

ESU5

Kelly Garcia, Teacher

 

Kiarra Corning

Spanish Level 5+, AP, IB,

Crete Public Schools

Angela Wagoner, Teacher

 

Matthew Radicia-Zastrow

Spanish Leevel 5+, AP, IB

Millard North High school

Theresa Jensen, Teacher

Penelope Larson

Spanish Level 5+, AP, IB

Millard West High School

Sydney Bowcott, Teacher

   
Sofia Dimas

Spanish Heritage Level 3

Crete Public Schools

Angela Wagoner, Teacher

 

 

SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING – Middle School

Maximus Horeis

Spanish Middle School Level 1&2)

Elkhorn North Ridge Middle School

Alicia Dallman Shoemaker, Teacher

 

 

 

 

Honors

 

CHINESE LANGUAGE LEARNING (Public School)

Hayden Nagel

North Star High School (Lincoln)

Coral Su, Teacher

 

Katherine Hoevet

Scottsbluff Public Schools

Yi Ju Ting, Teacher

 

Nick Leon-Hernandez

Burke High School (Omaha)

Ching Yuk Lam, Teacher

 

CHINESE LANGUAGE LEARNING (Public School)
Maria Luiza DallAgnol

Lincoln Chinese Academy

Winston Hou, Teacher

 

FRENCH LANGUAGE LEARNING
Brendan Gugliotti

Omaha North High School

Valerie Finch, Teacher

 

Khadijath Diaby

Omaha Burke High School

Michaela Quaas

Legacy Durham

Omaha North High School

Valerie Finch, Teacher

 

 

GERMAN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Lily Callon

Omaha Central

Erica Meyer, Teacher

 

 

Rebeka Voss

Fremont High School

Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher

 

LATIN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Cooper Gibson

Millard North High School

Julia Kolander, Teacher

 

 

 

 

 

SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING – High School

Alex Werner

Mullen Public Schools

Dominique Werner, Teacher

Ali Bell

Conestoga high school

Rebecca Spangler, Teacher

 

Ashlyn Simonson

Elmwood- Murdock Public Schools

Manuel Gonzalez Camina, Teacher

 

Bailey Tjaden

York High School

Avie Veldkamp, Teacher

Braeden Willnerd

Fremont High School

Shea Aherns, Teacher

Cho Cho Than

Benson Magnect High School,

Araceli Lobato Darias, Teacher

 

Elijah Lingafelter

Conestoga high school

Rebecca Spangler, Teacher

Emory Trofholz

Conestoga high school

Rebecca Spangler, Teacher

 

Josephine Moyer

West Point-Beemer

High School

Meghan Schneider, Teacher

 

Laura Kinnison

Wisner-Pilger High School Lia Raabe, Teacher

 

Lily Pope

Elmwood Murdock Public Schools

Manuel Gonzalez Camina, Teacher

 

McKenna Slonecker

Wisner-Pilger High School Lia Raabe, Teacher

     
 

SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING – Middle School

Cameron Graziano

Westside Middle School Kelly Schulz, Teacher

 

Ian Chamizo

Elkhorn North Ridge Middle School

Alicia Dallman Shoemaker, Teacher

 

Maci Walz

Mullen Public School

Dominique Werner, Teacher

 

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David Jespersen
Public Information Officer, Nebraska Department of Education
402-471-4537
david.jespersen@nebraska.gov
@NDE_News