2023 Award Winners and Grant Recipients
Barbara Ort-Smith Award
The Barbara Ort-Smith Award is the most prestigious award a professional in the field of world languages can receive in the State of Michigan. This award honors those who have shown a strong commitment to the profession, manifesting itself in leadership and the promotion of excellence in world language education. The first recipient of this award was Barbara Ort-Smith in 1988. She served as the first Foreign Language consultant in the state of Michigan.
Michael Vrooman
Grand Valley State University
Teacher of the Year Awards
The MIWLA Teacher of the Year Awards honor the accomplishments of exemplary K-12 world language teachers. Each year, one elementary, one middle school, and one high school teacher may be recognized with this award.
The Georges J. Joyaux Post-Secondary Educator Award is given to an outstanding post-secondary faculty member or administrator who is committed to the principle of expanding American’s understanding of world languages and cultures to enhance their standing in education, culture, business in the world.
Jason Paetz
MIWLA High School Teacher of the Year
Frankenmuth High School
Jen Shaw
MIWLA Middle Teacher of the Year
Ann Arbor Public Schools
MIWLA Distinguished Service Award
The MIWLA Distinguished Service Award was established in 2014 and is given in recognition of exemplary service to the Michigan World Language Association and/or the profession at large. The MIWLA Executive Board nominates candidates and selects the recipient of the Award. Selection criteria may include holding leadership positions within MIWLA and/or other language organizations, serving as a chair or member of MIWLA committees, representing MIWLA in a national or international capacity, and/or other exemplary service to professional organizations or the profession at large.
Jason Paetz
Frankenmuth High School
Grant Recipients
MIWLA grants support and introduces aspiring and experienced world language teachers to the professional development opportunities and services offered by MIWLA.
Charles H. Ahnert Instructional Grant
Experienced Teacher Conference Attendance Grants
- Cynthia Golick
- Adrienne Novales
- Mary Clair Wissman
New Teacher Conference Attendance Grants
- Emily Alaniz
- Lynn Brown
- Jenna Kotula
- Yuan Li
- Tara Logan
Pre-service and Student Teacher Conference Attendance Grants
- Sandra Cano
- Taylor Haddon
- Erin Hebel
- Grace Lyons
- Caroline Ruffolo
- Megan Zaiter
- Luyan Zhang
MIWLA would like to acknowledge the generous support of these grants from the following:
- AATSP-MI (2 Grants)
- J. Sanford “Sandy” Dugan
- Julie Foss
- Emily Spinelli
- Anne Violin-Wigent