German student earns summer study-abroad trip

Every year, the Hempfield High School German department asks students to voluntarily take a National German Exam. If students score in the 90th percentile or above, they may apply for a Study Trip Award. The application process includes recommendation letters from their German teacher, as well as written responses in German as well as an interview in German and English with a panel of two German professors from local universities and a German teacher from a local school district. The panel recommends one student from the Central PA chapter to the Study Trip Award Selection Committee. From there that student may be one of many who could be selected to travel to Germany over the summer, where students will stay with a host-family, take classes, and tour areas of Germany at no cost. This year, sophomore Jack Thomas was selected to travel to Germany this summer. Following are some statements made about Jack by Dr. Jennifer Redmann, Professor of German Studies at F&M from the recommendation letter being sent to the Study Trip Award Selection Committee. The strong writing skills he displayed in his letter…were confirmed by his truly excellent oral performance in the interview. He understood everything we asked and elaborated frequently, providing detailed answers to all of our questions. For Jack, the key to intercultural understanding is meaningful personal relationships, and it was clear to us that he has the strong interpersonal skills necessary to make those kinds of connections.”