National German Exam Student Spotlights

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Gabriella Leer is a recent high school graduate of Billings West High School in Billings, Montana, where she was the top student of German. Gabriella started taking German 1 as a sophomore, and switched into German 2 after one semester, thanks in large part to her self-study of the language. In her three years of German at West High, she was a gold medal recipient every single year. Her determination to learn the language and culture is exceptional, and although she was unable to travel to Germany for an extended stay (she was also a CBYX recipient for this past year, but due to COVID, the exchange was cancelled), German will certainly play a role in her future as she moves into her post-high school life.

Submitted by Paul Asleson, AATG member, Montana

Spencer Goldsmith is a junior at Falmouth Academy on Cape Cod, studying German 5. He ranked #1 in the state of Massachusetts in this year’s National German Exam, Level 4. Spencer’s initial interest in the German language was sparked by meeting German speakers while traveling in Italy, and then again near his home on Martha's Vineyard. From September 2019 until July 2020, Spencer was an exchange student at the “Stadtteilschule Bergedorf” near Hamburg. His time in Germany helped improve his fluency to the point of being able to read German books for pleasure. “Meine Familie und anderes Getier” by Gerald Durrell ranks among his favorites. After his graduation in 2022, Spencer plans to go to college in Germany to pursue linguistics or a language-related course of study.

Submitted by Bettina Freelund, AATG member, Massachusetts

Tabitha Watson from the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) ranked 1st in Alabama both at level 3 and level 4 in consecutive years of the National German Exam. She qualified for the national Seal of Biliteracy by placing intermediate-high to advanced skill level. Tabitha spent a term with a German family and went to school abroad through the ASMS foreign exchange program, and has sat in on some virtual college-level German courses at Georgetown University. Read the full article published by ASMS at www.asms.net/news.

Submitted by Muriel Hoequist, AATG member, Alabama

 AATG Käthe-Wilson Honor Society Scholarship for high school students  AATG Summer Study for High School Students Scholarship  AATG Future Scholarship for High School Students