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ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 28, 2024 ~ Philadelphia, PA - The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Language Connects Foundation (LCF) have announced the recipients of the 2024 ACTFL & LCF Professional Awards. These awards, presented annually, recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of language education.

The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, November 22 in Philadelphia as part of the ACTFL 2024 Annual Convention & World Languages Expo. This year's recipients come from a variety of backgrounds and have been recognized for their excellence in different areas of language education.

Rima Elabdali from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville has been awarded the NFMLTA/MLJ Emma Marie Birkmaier Award for Doctoral Dissertation Research in World Language Education. Cyrus Segawa Konstantinakos from Boston University's Showa Boston Institute has been honored with the Nelson Brooks Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Culture.

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The Public Service Award for World Language and Cultural Advocacy will be shared by two recipients this year - Tony Allen from Delaware State University and Amy Eusebio from the City of Philadelphia's Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Lini Ge Polin from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been recognized with the Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Classroom. The Klett Award for Sustainable Development Education in the World Language Classroom will be shared by three recipients - Claire-Marie Brisson from Harvard University, Anthony Fernando from Vinschool in Vietnam, and Marina Falasca from Instituto de Enseñanza Superior en Lenguas Vivas "Juan Ramón Fernández" in Argentina.

Pamela Wesely from the University of Iowa has been awarded with NYSAFLT Anthony Papalia Award for Excellence in Teacher Education. James Stratton from Pennsylvania State University has received the NFMLTA/MLJ Paul Pimsleur Award for Research in World Language Education.

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The Wilga Rivers Award for Leadership in World Language Education (Postsecondary) has been given to Yoshiko Saito-Abbott from California State University, Monterey Bay. Debbie Callihan-Dingle from North East ISD in Texas has been honored with the Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in World Language Education (K-12).

Two awards have been given for excellence in world language instruction using technology - T.J. Heupel from Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School in Nevada has received the award for K-12, while Julie Damron from Brigham Young University in Utah has been recognized for postsecondary instruction.

The Melba D. Woodruff Award for Exemplary Elementary World Language Program has been given to Oak Park School District 97's World Language in the Elementary Schools program, accepted by Department Co-Chair Margaret Poleski.

The ceremony will begin with remarks from ACTFL Past-Presidents Lisa Ritter and Bridget Yaden. The event will also acknowledge the recipients of the 2024 Research Priorities Grants and Foreign Language Annals Super Reviewers.

For more information about the ACTFL & LCF Professional Awards program, including details on how to submit nominations, visit their website. The call for nominations, including self-nominations, will reopen in Spring 2025.

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