Carmen Scoggins
2023 Recipient
The SCOLT Board of Directors presents the Founders Award when deemed appropriate to a member who has made significant contributions to SCOLT over the years and who exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the founders of the organization.
I would like to thank the SCOLT Board for this amazing honor! SCOLT was my home for about ten years and I had the opportunity to serve with three executive directors, Lynne McClendon, David Jahner, and Dr. Leslie Baldwin. I was the SCOLT Scholarship Director and then was elected as President-Elect which led to the presidency and past presidency. During my time on the board, my leadership skills grew and I had the privilege of serving with passionate and phenomenal board members who became more like family than colleagues. SCOLT serves the southeastern states and all I know is that the southern hospitality of SCOLT is home to some of the BEST world language educators in the country! I learned more from you than I could have imagined and you helped shape the language educator and teacher/leader that I am today.
SCOLT was a bridge for me between my home state organization, FLANC, and our national organization, ACTFL. In 2008 I was named the SCOLT Teacher of the Year which catapulted me onto the national scene. I was overwhelmed and enthralled by the new connections I made and the opportunities I was given. SCOLT put me on the path to long lasting leadership possibilities and I will be forever grateful to the current SCOLT board and to the SCOLT founders for those life-changing experiences and friendships.
Serving on the board and as SCOLT president was one of the highlights of my career! Thank you for sustaining me personally and for supporting world language teachers in our region. I firmly believe in giving back to the profession and I thank SCOLT for allowing me to serve and to grow in my own beliefs and passions. As president, I wanted SCOLT to be known as the friendliest regional conference. And I certainly believe that is true! Thank you for honoring me with the SCOLT Founders Award!
Previous awardees:
2022 Yohanna Jiménez
2021 David Jahner
2020 June Carter
2019 Mary Lynn Redmond
2018 Sue Barry
2017 Ken Stewart
2016 Ruta Couet
2015 Marty Abbott
2014 Norah Jones
2013 Lynne McClendon
2012 C. Maurice Cherry
2011 Carol Wilkerson
2010 Anne Fountain
2009 Greg Duncan and Sharon Rapp
2008 Carolyn Hansen
2007 David Alley
2006 Helene Zimmer-Loew
2005 Billie O. Edmonds
2004 Robert Terry and Paula Heusinkveld
2003 T. Bruce Fryer
2002 —
2001 Frank W. Medley Jr.
2000 Lee Bradley
1999 —
1998 —
1997 Herman F. Bostick
1996 —
1995 Joanna Crane
1994 Elizabeth Epting