News Release
March 12, 2025
Nebraska World Language Distinguished Scholars Recognized
The Nebraska Department of Education is proud to honor 70 students with the Distinguished World Language Scholar Award during World Language Week 2025. These students have demonstrated outstanding leadership in language learning, commitment to language study, appreciation for cultural diversity, and communicative competence. Nominated by their teachers, each student submitted a portfolio highlighting their achievements.
This year, NDE World Language Education also launched the Student Language Spotlight Award, recognizing 29 students for exceptional learning evidence from world language classrooms across Nebraska. This new award celebrates language proficiency and cultural understanding.
“I believe learning a world language is crucial for connecting cultures, opening opportunities to form new relationships, and gaining knowledge about how the world works,” said Averie Andersen, a Distinguished World Language Scholar.
Inspired by these achievements, we invite all students to take part in the 2026 Nebraska World Language Week, scheduled for February 9th to 15th, to celebrate the power of language, explore its impact, and connect with cultures around the world.
For more information about World Language Week, the Student Language Spotlight Award, and the World Language Distinguished Scholar Award, visit: https://www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage/world-language-week/.
Student Language Spotlight Award
| Alicia Wang
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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Alyssa Freeman
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School – High School Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Coral Su, Teacher |
| Anthony Guo
Recitation Chinese Novice (Non-public School-Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Chenglin Hou, Teacher |
Aryah L Dunn
Role-play Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Middle School Level 1) Nathan Hale Middle School Dr. Lifen Li, Teacher
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| Ashely Chen
Project Chinese Novice (Non-public School-Elementary Level 1) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Zheying Li, Teacher
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Belinda Qiao
Idioms Chinese Intermediate Mid (Non-public School Heritage – High School Level 4) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Wen Hou, Teacher
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| Brooks Xia
Idioms Chinese Intermediate Mid (Non-public School Heritage – Heritage – High School Level 4) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Wen Hou, Teacher |
Catherine Sun
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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| Enyu Wang
Poetry Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Elementary Level 1&2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Zheying Li, Teacher
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Evan Dong
Culture Presentation Chinese Intermediate (Non-public School Heritage – Heritage-Middle School Level 3) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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| Gabrielle Theis
Presentation Spanish Intermediate Low (Level 1&2) Dorchester High School Kelly Garcia, Teacher
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Grace Cai
Idoms Chinese Intermediate (Non-public School Heritage – Heritage- High School Level 4) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Wen Hou, Teacher
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| Gavin Balanay
Project Spanish Novice (Non-public School – High School Level 1&2) Creighton Preparatory School Gwen Fisher, Teacher |
Iris Hui
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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| Ivy Zhou
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – High School Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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Jade XIa
Culture Presentation Chinese Intermediate (Non-public School Heritage – Heritage-Middle School Level 3) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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| Katelyn Xia
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Heritage – Middle School- Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher |
Maha H. Shamdeen
Project Chinese Novice (Public School – High School Level 1&2) Lincoln North Star High School Coral Su, Teacher
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| Olivia Bechtel
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School – High School Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Coral Su, Teacher
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Rachel Nguyen
Project Chinese Novice (Public School – Middle School Level 1) Beveridge Middle School Dr. Xuan Song, Teacher
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| Rayven Richard
Project Chinese Novice (Public School – High School Level 1&2) Rayven Richard Dr. Xuan Song, Teacher
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Rui Tao
Recitation Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Chenglin Hou, Teacher
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| Shirley Tao
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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Moo E Soe
Presentation Chinese Novice (Public School – Middle School Level 1) Nathan Hale Middle School Lifen Li, Teacher
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| Sophie Cai
Recitation Chinese Novice (Non-public School – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Chenglin Hou, Teacher |
Suzy Ma
Singing Chinese Novice (Non-public School Heritage – Elementary Level 2) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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| Wensi Cui
Idioms Chinese Novice (Non-public School High School Level 4) LCCA-Lincoln Chinese Academy Wen Hou, Teacher |
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| Distinguished World Language Scholar – High Honors
CHINESE LANGUAGE LEARNING
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| Aiman Alam
Chinese Novice (Level 1) High School (Non-public School) Marian High School Sicong Mills, Teacher
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Allyson Hale
Chinese Novice (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Lincoln North Star High School Chun-Yi Su, Teacher
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| Brennya Roach
Chinese Intermediate Low (Level 3&4) High School (Public School) Scottsbluff High School Yiju Ting, Teacher
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Ernest Xie
Chinese Novice (Level 1&2) Elementary (Non-public School) LCCA Lincoln Chinese Academy Jane Li, Teacher
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| Grace Cai
Chinese Intermediate Low (Level 3&4) High School (Non-public School) LCCA Lincoln Chinese Academy Wendy Hou, Teacher
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Julisa Vasquez Sandoval
Chinese Novice (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Omaha South High School Gao Min Palmer, Teacher
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| Mackenzie Reidy
Chinese Intermediate Low (Level 4) High School (Non-public School) Marian High School Sicong Mills, Teacher
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McKinley Fritz
Chinese Noive (Level 2) High School (Non-public School) Marian High School Sicong Mills, Teacher |
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| FRENCH LANGUAGE LEARNING | |||
| Alexander Burn
French Novice (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Omaha Burke High School Michaela Quaas, Teacher
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Kai Vuchetich
French Novice (Levels 1&2) Norfolk Senior High School Martha Thompson, Teacher
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Scout Dollison French Intermediate Mid (Level 5+) High School (Public School) Omaha Central High School Micah Ringlein, Teacher
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| GERMAN LANGUAGE LEARNING | |||
| Amanda Marsh
German Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4) High School (Public School) Gretna High School Kellye Deane, Teacher
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Brenda Alonzo-Gutierrez
German Interemediate Low (Levels 3&4) High School (Public School) Fremont High School Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher
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| Daxton Graham
German Intermediate Mid (Levels 5+) High School (Public School) Fremont Senior High School Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher
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Emely Garcia
German Interemediate Low (Levels 3&4) High School (Public School) Fremont Senior High School Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher
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| Lilian Bock
German Novice (Levels 1&2) High School (Public School) Gretna High School Kellye Deane, Teacher |
Matthew Lively
German Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4) High School (Public School) Bellevue East High school Rae Fahrlander, Teacher |
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| Phoebe Pierson
German Intermediate Mid (Levels 5+) High School (Public School) Lincoln High School Marissa Wanamaker, Teacher |
Quinn Bohaty
German Intermediate Low (Levels 3&4) Middle School (Public School) Schoo Middle School Kelleen Rosebaugh, Teacher |
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| Rosemary Conway
German Novice (Levels 1&2) High School (Public School) Omaha Central High School Erica Meyer, Teacher |
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Latin LANGUAGE LEARNING
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| Annabel Averett
Latin Intermediate Low (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Millard North High School Terry Meyer, Teacher |
Dagny Edward
Latin Intermediate Mid (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Millard North High School Julia Kolander/Terry Meyer, Teacher |
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SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING |
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| Addyson Hintz
Spanish Intermediate Low (Level 3&4) High School (Public School) Deshler Public Schools Kaitlyn Buss, Teacher
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Adelynn Sateren
Spanish Intermediate Low (Level 3&4) High School (Public School) Wisner-Pilger High School Lia Raabe, Teacher |
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| Andrew O’Connor
Spanish Novice (Levels 1&2) High School (Private School) Creighton Preparatory School Gwen Fisher, Teacher
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Averie Andersen
Spanish Intermediate Low (Heritage Level1) High School (Public School) Conestoga Jr/Sr High School Rebecca Spangler, Teacher
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| Beau Parsons
Spanish Novice (Elementary Level 3) Elementary (Public School) Schuyler Elementary School Evelyn Recinos – Menéndez, Teacher |
Carmen Lopez
Spanish Intermediate Low (Level 3&4), High School (Public School) Omaha Central High School Francisco Juárez Palomo, Teacher |
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| Conner McFarland
Spanish Novice (Middle School Level 1) Middle School (Public School) South Platte High School Gladys Einspahr-Sylvester, Teacher
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Dallas Finney
Spanish Novice (Elementary Level 2) Elementary School (Public School) South Platte Elementary Gladys K. Einspahr-Sylvester, Teacher |
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| Dustine Fox
Spanish Novice (Middle School Level 1) High School (Public School) South Platte High School Gladys Einspahr-Sylvester, Teacher |
Ellene Joyce Velasco
Spanish Novice (Levels 1&2) High School (Private School) Cambrisge High School Kelly Garcia, Teacher |
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| Emma Baldeh
Spanish Novice (Levels 1&2) High School (Public School) Dundy County Stratton Junior/Senior High School Kelly Garcia, Teacher |
Emma Bowery
Spanish Novice (Level 1 & 2) High School (Public School) Fort Calhoun Jr-Sr High School Anita Saalfeld, Teacher
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| Emma Schroetlin
Spanish Novice (Levels 1&2) High School (Public School) Wisner Pilger High School Lia Raabe, Teacher
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Emma Tylor
Spanish Novice (Level 1 & 2) High School (Public School) Conestoga Junior/Senior High School Rebecca Spangler, Teacher |
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| Gabriela Antunez
Spanish Intermediate Mid (Heritage Level 3) High School (Public School) Omaha Central High School Francisco Juárez Palomo, Teacher |
Hannah Estrada
Spanish Novice (Level 3 & 4) High School (Public School) Lincoln Northwest High School Danielle Fulcher, Teacher |
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Hannah Parker Spanish Intermediate Low (Level 3 & 4) High School (Public School) Wisner-Pilger High School Lia Raabe, Teacher
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Jenika Ornelas Spanish Novice (Elementary Level 1) Elementary School (Public School) South Platte Elementary School Gladys K. Einspahr-Sylvester, Teacher |
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| Joely Garcia Ramire
Spanish Intermediate Low (Heritage Level 1) Middle School (Public School) Westside Middle School Kelly Schulz, Teacher
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Lia Castro
Spanish Novice (Middle School Level 1) Middle School (Public School) Elkhorn North Ridge Middle School Alicia Dallman Shoemaker, Teacher
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| Naomi Bash
Spanish Novice (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Omaha Central High School Denise Forest, Teacher |
Nghi Tran
Spanish Novice (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Incoln Northwest High School Danielle Fulcher, Teacher
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| Sarah Brott
Spanish Intermediate Low (Level 3&4) High School (Public School), Paxton High School Kelly Garcia, Teacher
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Vivian Vargas-Urbana
Spanish Intermediate Low (Heritage Level 2) High School (Public School) Lexington High School Luis Gamero, Teacher
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| Distinguished World Language Scholar – Honors
CHINESE LANGUAGE LEARNING-High School |
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Carmen Vega Garcia High School (Public School) Omaha South Megnetic High School Gao Min Palmer, Teacher
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Iris Hui Elementary (Community School) LCCA Lincoln Chinese Academy Winston Hou, Teacher
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Moo Soe Middle School (Public School) Nathan Hale Magnet Middle School Lifen Li, Teacher
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| Teh Meh
High School (Public School) North Star High School Chun-Yi Su, Teacher
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Wensi Cui
High School (Community School) LCCA Lincoln Chinese Academy Yanqiu Xu, Teacher
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| FRENCH LANGUAGE LEARNING | |||
| Ana Tercero Bautista
High School (Public School) Omaha Burke High School MIchaela Quaas, Teacher |
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| GERMAN LANGUAGE LEARNING | |||
| Isabella Woods
High School (Public School) Fremont High School Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher |
Jacob Carlson
High School (Public School) Omaha Central High School Erica Meyer, Teacher |
Matthew Tweedy
High School (Public School) Fremont High School Brenda Schiermeyer, Teacher
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| Oslo Gegg
High School (Public School) Lincoln Southeast High School Kelleen Rosebaugh, Teacher |
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| Latin LANGUAGE LEARNING | |||
| Gabriel Goulet
High School (Public) Millard North High School Magistra Kolander, Teacher |
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| SPANISH LANGUAGE LEARNING | |||
| Angel Aguirre
High School (Public School) Central High school Francisco Juarez Palomo, Teacher |
Darvelyn Rodriguez
High School (Public School) Central High school Javier Juarez, Teacher
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Jane Parker
High School (Public School) Omaha Central High school Melissa Kuskie, Teacher
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| Jayden Gage
Middle School (Public School) South Platte Middle School Gladys Einspahr-Sylvester, Teacher
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Jordyn Clinchard
High School (Public School) Wayne Junior/Senior High School Sra Dutcher, Teacher
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Kailin Elliott
High School (Public School) Norfolk Senior High School Elsa Sosa-Glasford, Teacher
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| Katrina Moyer
High School (Public School) West Point-Beemer High School Meghan Schneider, Teacher
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Lexi Bray
High School (Public School) Waverly High School Cass Didier, Teacher
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Lily Lehr
High School (Public School) Dorchester High School, Kelly Garcia, Teacher
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| Max Gordon
Middle School (Public School) Westside Middle School Kelly Schulz, Teacher
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Michael Wemhoff
High School (Public School), Leigh High School Kelly Garcia, Teacher
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Samson Genoways
Spanish Noive (Level 1&2) High School (Public School) Fort Calhoun Junior-Senior High School Anita Saalfeld, Teacher |
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Public Information Officer, Nebraska Department of Education
402-471-4537
david.jespersen@nebraska.gov
@NDE_News