KU News Release

KU announces 2009 Schuelerkongress results

LAWRENCE — More than 125 medals were awarded to high school and junior high school students studying German during the Schuelerkongress, or student congress, held March 7 at the University of Kansas.

A total of 260 students from 18 schools in Abilene, Emporia, Hays, Junction City, Lawrence, Lindsborg, Newton, Olathe, Overland Park, Stilwell, Topeka and Wichita attended the annual event sponsored by the Kansas Association of Teachers of German in cooperation with KU’s Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.

Schuelerkongress promotes the study of German languages, literature and culture with oral proficiency exercises and contests in poetry recitation (lyrik), prose reading (prosa), spelling (rechtschreibung), cultural tests (kulturquiz) and poster making.

Junction City High School students won first in the poster-making contest; Olathe Northwest High School, second, and Olathe North, third.

A committee of high school teachers selects the poems and prose in advance to match students’ level of study, such as first-year or second-year German. Faculty and graduate teaching assistants from KU judged the contests.

William Keel, chair of Germanic languages and literatures at KU, said the event not only allows high school students to interact with university-level instructors but also supports the efforts of Kansas high school teachers to promote the study of foreign languages and cultures. The first Schuelerkongress was held in 1965 at KU, where it has become, with few exceptions, an annual event, Keel said.

Kansas high school and junior high school students who won medals are listed below by their schools and awards. Some students earned medals in more than one event. Awards are listed by contest and level of proficiency. Levels 1 through 4 denote first, second, third and fourth-year of German study, and a Level E medal recognizes a fifth year of study or study abroad experience. For example, the Lyrik E medal rewards proficiency in fifth-year poetry recitation.

Abilene High School: Ryan Dover, Kulturquiz E, Lyrik E, Prosa E and Rechtschreibung E; and Kaitlin Mounts, Lyrik 4.

Blue Valley High School: Bailey Kennedy, Lyrik 4, Prosa 4 and Rechtschreibung 4.

Blue Valley Northwest High School: Tresa Carter, Rechtschreibung 4; Jeff Hoffman, Prosa 4 and Rechtschreibung 4; Tanner Menees, Kulturquiz 2 and Rechtschreibung 2; Connor O’Reilly, Lyrik 2; Lisa Rivadeniera, Prosa E, Kulturquiz E, Lyrik E and Rechtschreibung E; Aaron Smith, Prosa 4; and Michael Xiang, Kulturquiz 4.

Emporia High School: Brett Steinbrink, Rechtschreibung 3.

Hays High School: Xan Faber, Lyrik 2; and Brenda Soto, Prosa 1.

Junction City High School: Alex Adams, Kulturquiz 2, Lyrik 2 and Prosa 2; Madeleine Arnold, Kulturquiz 3, Lyrik 3, Prosa 3 and Rechtschreibung 3; Vanessa Behrens, Kulturquiz 2, Lyrik 2 and Prosa 2; Samantha Bragg, Lyrik 1; Natasha Castillo, Kulturquiz 2 and Prosa 2; Kelsie Fischer-Tubbs, Lyrik 1; Sandra Fontaine, Kulturquiz E, Lyrik E, Prosa E and Rechtschreibung E; Sarah Gideonse, Kulturquiz 4, Lyrik 4 and Prosa 4; Alex Griffiths, Kulturquiz 3; Cheryl Henderson, Kulturquiz 2, Lyrik 2 and Prosa 2; Elizabeth Hillebert, Kulturquiz 1 and Lyrik 1; Cherise Ishman, Kulturquiz 1 and Lyrik 1; Brittanie Jameson, Lyrik 2 and Prosa 2; Ricky Johnson, Kulturquiz 3 and Rechtschreibung 3; Hillary Kebbel, Kulturquiz 1 and Lyrik 1; Kim Leighty, Lyrik 2 and Prosa 2; Quinceola Reid, Prosa 1; Chelsea Shankle, Prosa 2; Donovan Sherraden, Kulturquiz 2; Darren Stephens, Kulturquiz 4, Lyrik 4, Prosa 4 and Rechtschreibung 4; Jenae’ Tate, Kulturquiz 1, Lyrik 1 and Prosa 1; and Dakin Vencil, Kulturquiz 3 and Lyrik 3.

Lawrence Central Junior High School: Martha Kesler, Lyrik 1 and Prosa 1; and Scott Richardson, Rechtschreibung 1.

Lawrence Free State High School: Cassandra Barrett, Lyrik 3; and Alec Fitzgerald, Prosa 3 and Rechtschreibung 3.

Lawrence High School: Joyce Bohling, Lyrik 3 and Prosa 3; Jason Chang, Prosa 2 and Rechtschreibung 2; Orion Dollar, Lyrik 2 and Rechtschreibung 2; Matthew Drahozal, Lyrik 3, Prosa 3 and Rechtschreibung 3; Travis Freese, Lyrik 2; Helen Gent, Lyrik 1, Prosa 1 and Rechtschreibung 1; Ulrich Johanning, Lyrik 2; Kristen Tidd, Lyrik 2 and Prosa 2; and Alexandra Wilke, Lyrik 2.

Lawrence Southwest Junior High School: Lauren Bracciano, Lyrik 1 and Prosa 1; William Evans, Prosa 1; Isaac Rinke, Lyrik 1 and Prosa 1; Michelle Stockwell, Lyrik 1 and Prosa 1; and Megan Wilson, Prosa 1 and Rechtschreibung 1.

Olathe East High School: Lindsey Bloom, Prosa 2; Matthew Niles, Prosa 2 and Rechtschreibung 2; and Joachim Rowe, Rechtschreibung 1.

Olathe North High School: Sydney Bryer, Prosa 2; and Antonio Ortiz, Kulturquiz 1 and Rechtschreibung 1.

Olathe Northwest High School: Lindley Fritze, Kulturquiz 3 and Prosa 3.

Topeka West High School: Reyes Gonzalez, Kulturquiz 3; Braxton Hurt, Prosa 2; James Lawson, Kulturquiz 4 and Rechtschreibung 4; Patrick Stegman, Kulturquiz 1; and Stuart Taylor, Kulturquiz 4.

Wichita Heights High School: Chelsea Behr, Rechtschreibung E; Chelsey Behr, Kulturquiz E and Lyrik E; and Hannah Lynges, Rechtschreibung 2.

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