News from the WPA AATG Western PA American Association of Teachers of German

SAVE THE DATE: WPWV SUMMER PICNIC SUNDAY AUGUST 19 NOON-? COOPER'S ROCK STATE FOREST, MORGANTOWN WV.

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Please help to save Pitt's graduate program in German!

Read below for details on how you can help.

Dear Colleagues and Neighbors in Western Pennsylvania,
As some of you may have heard, the Dean of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh has decided to suspend admissions to the graduate program in German starting immediately and continuing for the foreseeable future. In other words, they are trying to phase out graduate study of German.

If you are concerned about this and feel that graduate studies in German is important for both Pitt and for German Studies in Western Pennsylvania, we would appreciate letters of support to our Dean (cc’d to our Vice Provost for graduate studies. Their contact information is below.

In addition, our graduate students have created an online petition that you are welcome to sign:

http://www.change.org/petitions/university-of-pittsburgh-dean-of-graduate-studies-reinstate-the-department-of-german-s-graduate-program

Please forward this to anyone who might be interested.
Best regards,
John Lyon

Contact:

N. John Cooper
Bettye J. and Ralph E. Bailey Dean
917 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Alberta M. Sbragia
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
University of Pittsburgh
801 Cathedral of Learning

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Congratulations to Michaela Culley, of Burgettstown Middle / High School on winning a study trip to Germany through the National German Exam program!!

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Congratulations to Mark Demkee from North Allegheny Intermediate School, for winning our chapter's 2012 Duden Award for excellence in teaching!

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Congratulations to Daniel Madler, student of Mark Demkee's from North Allegheny Intermediate School, for winning our chapter's 2012 Langenscheidt Award!

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Winner of $50 gift cards: Ed Heinlein (retired, see our tutor listing!), Kerry Werner, North Allegheny School District.

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Do Deutsch Week was recently celebrated at Washington & Jefferson College, thanks to a generous grant from the German Embassy!

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Congratulations to Dr. Michael Shaughnessy on being named the 2011 recipient of the ACTFL/Cengage Learning Faculty Development Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology with IALLT. Mike is being so honored based on his outstanding expertise in this area and on his commitment to the language profession. He will receive the award at the 2011 ACTFL Annual Convention Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 18, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. If you will be attending ACTFL, please come and congratulate Mike for this honor.

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Congratulations to Katherine Bernola of Burgettstown High School, our Study Trip winner for the National German Exam!

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2011 Spring Election Meeting and Advocacy Workshop April 30, Washington & Jefferson College. Keep your German Program Alive and Kicking!

Agenda: vote on proposed merger with the West Virginia Chapter, new Chapter Vice-President

Congratulations to Peg Meyers of Mt. Lebanon High School, winner of the 2010 AATG / ISE Language Matters Award!

Congratulations are also in order to the Bayer Corporation, who was awarded the Friend of German Award for 2010 for its support of German educational programs.

Check out the pictures from the Uwe Kind concert at Fox Chapel High School on May 11!

We have recently learned of the death on May 19, 2010, of our chapter's former president in the 1970's, William (Ray) Gurley. Ray taught German in the Mt. Lebanon School District, and retired due to ill health in 1992. Some of our more experienced members might remember Ray's appearance at chapter meetings in Lederhosen. Here's a link to his obituary. There are some lovely comments from both former students and colleagues on the obituary website. We should all be so well-remembered some day!

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Eric M. Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany, hosted a Feb. 22 luncheon featuring Dr. Horst Freitag, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York.

On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Freitag awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Cross of the Order of Merit) to David A. Murdoch, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Honorary Consul for the Federal Republic of Germany in Pittsburgh, for his work in strengthening German-American relations. Click here to read Dr. Freitag's introduction.

Michael Shaughnessy, who received the Certificate of Merit Award in November 2009 at the AATG Annual Awards Luncheon at ACTFL!

Congratulations to Erica Stevens of Penn Hills, our Study Trip winner for the National German Exam! Read all about it in the Post Gazette!

Consul's bridge-building between W. Pa., Germany honored. By Mike Wereschagin PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, February 23, 2010