We proudly salute the student recipients of the department's annual awards.

Ann Imke received two prizes this year, the Dieter Cunz Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in German and the Undergraduate Project Award in German. Her project was entitled Nachhaltigkeit und Naturästhetik in Peter Zumthors Therme Vals. Ann will graduate from Ohio State with a double major in German and English, plus a minor in Professional Writing. We would also like to congratulate her on winning a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship. She will live in Nordrhein-Westfalen next year.

The Undergraduate Project Award in English was won by Julia Feldman, a double major in German and Psychology minoring in Human Development and Family Science, for her fine project entitled The Superego, the Id and “The Kiss”: A Reflection of the Human Psyche.

The competition for this year’s Graduate Associate Distinguished Teaching Award was fierce. The prize committee acknowledged Carolin Mueller with an Honorable Mention for Distinguished Teaching. The 2017 Award went to Kathrin Frenzel, described by nominators as “an exemplary and dynamic teacher.” Noted is her zeal to seek out opportunities to improve her teaching skills by participating in workshops and then integrating those newly learned practices into her own teaching. “Kathrin is a dedicated teacher who approaches her teaching with a sincere sense of commitment to student success.” The 1000-level German language program has benefitted from her contibutions and we commend her excellence.

Dennis Schaefer was selected to receive the Graduate Student Service Award for his outstanding contributions to departmental life this past year. He assisted in organizing and carrying out the first Karnevalsparty at the Max Kade German House in 2017. Dennis regularly wrote news items for the Germanic website and took a leading role in creating connections between our faculty and undergraduate students at weekly Kaffeestunde meetings. His engagement with his students, colleagues, staff, and faculty is to be applauded.

Last but not least, Derek Potts, a senior minoring in German and double majoring in International Studies and History, has been chosen to receive the 2017 Ilsedore Edse Scholarship. Derek plans to use the $750 to spend the summer working in a refugee camp in Germany through the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). He feels it is the perfect opportunity for him to live and work in Germany while also giving him an opportunity to help others. Derek will be working in Alpirsbach in Baden-Württemberg for the entire summer.

Congratulations to our award recipients and thank you to everyone who came out to show their support!