2025 Ken Stewart Future Language Educator Scholarship Recipient
Lucy Giordano, Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, NC
Teacher: Thomas Soth
Lucy Giordano plans to teach in an elementary Spanish immersion school so that she “can combine [her] two passions: Spanish and teaching.”
Lucy began her study of Spanish in an immersion program at the age of 6, and that has inspired her to teach in the same type of setting. She has shown teaching and leadership skills by working with children’s programs in her church and the community. Lucy is dedicated to the field of education and states that “I don’t just plan to teach, I plan to ensure every student I teach is excited by the change to learn about new cultures and new people in Spanish.” She will attend the University of Edinburgh in the fall, studying Spanish and Linguistics.
This $1,000 scholarship is intended for a high school senior who plans on a career as a world language educator. The scholarship is sponsored by Ken Stewart, Spanish teacher, former SCOLT Board member and 2006 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. Typically one scholarship is awarded each year. In 2021, two recipients were chosen as they were both outstanding applicants. Applicants must be a current high school senior in a SCOLT state or territory.
What are the requirements?
- Current high school transcript
- List of school and community activities
- Two letters of recommendation, each not to exceed one page (1 from a language teacher and 1 from a peer who can speak to your interest in language education as a career
- One page statement of your future plans to become a language teacher (750 words maximum)
- College or university you plan to attend (copy of acceptance, if available). State briefly how your plans fit within the offerings, programs and opportunities of this college or university.
- Hyperlink to video (maximum 3 minutes) of the candidate’s response in their language of study/L2 to this question: Tell us about an outstanding teacher you’ve had and what made that teacher so effective. What did that teacher do to inspire and encourage you as a student? The camera should focus entirely on the candidate while speaking.
Click below to complete the application form. Applications are due January 15.
Previous Recipients:
2024 Ella Tappe (AR)
2023 Eliza Hendrick (VA)
2021 Cody Smith (KY) and Miriam Smith (NC)
2020 Virginia Jackson (GA)
2019 William Roebuck (SC)
Twitter feed
Spring 2025 SCOLTalk is out! Check it out here:
The Language Connects Foundation congratulates the five Regional Language Teachers of the Year! Learn more about each of these amazing educators at: https://bit.ly/3Ur2cDm @cslang4all @_SCOLT_ @swcoltorg @pncfl1949 @NECTFL