Distinguished Service Award

Distinguished Service to Foreign Language Learning Award Categories

FOR EXEMPLARY TEACHING AND TRAINING
Category I - Educators whose exemplary teaching has provided inspiration to large numbers of foreign language students or teachers. This category includes persons who have distinguished themselves in teacher education and as in service trainers, as well as in the actual teaching of languages and cultures.
FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Category II - Individuals who have contributed substantially to the enhancement of the profession of foreign language teaching in Illinois. This category covers efforts to improve the image and effectiveness of professional associations as well as the profession itself as an institution. It includes persons who have supported professional organizations by presenting at conferences, holding leadership positions, and serving on committees.
Category III - Individuals who have made outstanding efforts to promote foreign language study in Illinois. This category includes persons who have counseled students, organized advocacy efforts, developed promotional materials, and addressed community groups.
Category IV - Individuals who have made major financial contributions to advance or improve foreign language learning in Illinois. This category includes persons who have generated prizes or scholarships, obtained grants, or contributed funds, materials, or services other than teaching and training.
Category V - Individuals who have been influential in shaping public policy in favor of foreign language learning in Illinois. This category, which includes school administrators, school board members, and elected officials, also covers persons who have provided public testimony, supported legislative initiatives, influenced public opinion, and shaped curriculum decisions.
Category VI - Individuals whose research, writing, or curriculum development has markedly improved foreign language education in Illinois. This category includes authors of journal articles and developers of teaching materials, research projects, and curricula, including those designed for teacher training

Recipients will receive complimentary registration for the ICTFL WinterFest and the ICTFL Fall Conference for Friday and Saturday. They will also receive a one year’s complimentary membership in the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and an award certificate, which will be presented at the Fall Conference event. The award does not cover travel to the conference, breakfast, lodging, or the cost of special workshops. Each year a maximum of two awards will be designated for non educators statewide, a maximum of two per category for educators in ICTFL Region I, and one per category for educators in each of the other four Regions.
It is the responsibility of the nominator to collect all the letters and other necessary documents, and submit them.

Only complete applications will be considered. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 15.
A jury of ICTFL officers and other members will score the nominations. This process will be supervised by the ICTFL Awards Committee. The determination of the jury shall be final.

NOMINATE now.

Meet Our 2022 Distinguished Award Recipients

Florencia Henshaw
SPANISH - University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign
Category 1 - ICTFL region 4

Kia D. London
SPANISH - Latin School of Chicago
Category 1 - ICTFL region 1

Lynda Lopez
French
FRENCH - University Laboratory High School
Category 2 - ICTFL region 4

Past Recipients of this Award

Meet Our 2021 Distinguished Award Recipients

Valerina Correa, Francis Parker School
2021 - Category 1

Mary Kerrigan, Oak Lawn Community District
2021 - Category 1

Kathryn Harshman, Alah High School
2021 - Category 2

Dr. Brad Detering, Salem Community HS
2021 - Category 3

Andrea Isabelli, Woodstock High School
2021 - Category 2

Meet Our 2020 Distinguished Award Recipients

Matt Hotopp, Jefferson HS
2020 - Category 1

Katie Lawrence, Hall HS
2020- Category 2 Region 2

Eileen Walvoord - Niles HS Emeritus
2020 - Category 2 Region 1

Deborah Kessler, Bradley University
2020 - Category 2 Region 3

Kathryn Wolfkiel, Barrington HS
2020 - Category 2 Region 1

Melisa Lopez, Carbondale HS
2020 - Category 2 Region 5

Tom Sapp, Loyola Academy High School
2019 - Category 2

Leslie Rathunde, Glenbroook North HS
2019 - Category 1

Ingrid Zeller, Northwestern University
2019 - Category 2

2018 Rick Undesser Category 1

2018 Christina Brodell Category 1

2018 Dana Tolomeo Category 1

2018 Talia Block
Category 2

2018 Katharina Barbe Category 6

2017 - Margot Steinhart

2017 - Joanna Kotecki

2017 - Ellen Ericson

2016 - Kristin Davin, Kellye Guzik and Elaine Diveley

2015 - Olga Horn

2014 - Alberto Filipponi

2013 - Recognition for Illinois Seal of Biliteracy: Janet Nolan CPS-NEIU, Illinois Senator Iris Martinez (pictured with ICTFL President Linda Egnatz)

2012 - Anna Hog (Region 1), Sandy Jurgovan (Region 2)
2011 - Julie Jezuit, Ann Darwish, JoAnne Bratkovich
2010 - Mary Ann Roedl and Mary Slider - Distinguished Service Award Recipients
2008 - Heribert Breidenbach and Margaret Swanson
2007 - Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz
2006 - Mary Lindquist / Willa Less Schultz
2005 - Merle Wilder

formerly the Lieutenant Governor's Award Winners 1989-2004

Virginia Anderson (1999)
Susan Arbuckle (1991)
Patricia Arnold (1992)
Mary Jo Aronica (1993)
Kathy Barnes (1991)
Barbara S. Bell (1995)
Luz María Berd (1995)
Kathleen L. Betterman (1998)
Teresa T. Blair (1992)
Sherry Blastenbrei (1992)
Flora Breidenbach (2001)
Suzanne Cappozzo (1991)
Paul R. Carlson (1993)
Dennis A. Church (1994)
Suzanne C. Coons (1990)
Mary Jane Crotty (1991)
Karen Sams Davis (1997)
Dolores Decaroli (1993)
Raymond Den Adel (1989)
John H. Doeringer (1995)
Bonna Kay Downey (1989)
Heather Engler-Thomas (2001)
Fran Etter (1996)
Susan Ferguson (2000)
Michael Finnemann (1995)
Nancy Frerkes (1991)
Anne Marie Fuhrig (1994)
Karen L. Furrh (1989)
Karl-Heinz Gabbey (1999)
Marge Gamboa (1992)
Marie-Rose Gerdisch (1993)
David L. Gobert (1994)
Camilla Golemo (1992)
Virginia Gramer (1991)
Linda J. Greene (1990)
Paul T. Griffith (1996)

Theodore H. Haldeman (1995)
Thomas L. Hansen (1996)
Bruce W. Hawkins (1993)
Janet Healy (1992)
Anne Hébert (1999)
Alice Henderson (1992)
Gwenne Hickman (2002)
Edwin R. Hockett (1989)
Maxine Hubbard (1989)
Julia A. Husen (2000)
Christine A. Ingraffia (1998)
Gunde Iwersen-Burritt (2003)
Susan C. Johnson (1993)
John Katzenmayer (2001)
Takuo Kinoshita (1996)
Waunita Kinoshita (1994)
John LeCuyer (2000)
Susan Leibowitz (1993)
David Leitch (2001)
Helmut Liedloff (1989)
Irmgard Lindahl (1994)
Vincent Lombardo (1989)
Carolyn Lowstuter (1989)
Franziska Lys (1996)
Kathleen Mayer (1989)
Emily M. Marsland (1991)
Sherrilyn Martin (2001)
Terry Meyers (1993)
Dulce María Mijeski (1990)
Angeles R. Morán (1999)
RoseAnna Mueller (1995)
Julia Mullikin (1998)
Patsy J. Mullin (1991)
Helen Nall (1991)
LeaAnn Osburn (1990)

John LeCuyer (2000)
Victor J. Palomino (1992)
Linda Paulus (1994)
Margaret Plank (2000)
Alexandra Pradella-Ott (1996)
Wade A. Provo (1992)
Carole Ann Ryan (2000)
Brad Salley (2004)
Jo Ellen Sandburg (1997)
Ronald E. Sauberli (1997)
James G. Schmitt (1994)
Thomas J. Sienkewicz (1993)
Pierre Simonian (1991)
Sharon Soper (1992)
Charles Speck (1990)
Donald Sprague (1996)
John H. Stark (1997)
Margot M. Steinhart (1994)
Joan F. Stopka (2002)
Farren Stover (1989)
Daniel P. Stoyak (2002)
Kathy Stoyak (2000)
Dorothy Strickler (1999)
Judith Sugarman (1990)
Marie Taraska (1990)
Earl G. Thompson (1994)
Albert R. Turner (1994)
Carmen P. Underwood (1993)
Karen Van Howe (1991)
Robert E. Vicars (1989)
Montserrat Vilarrubla (1994)
Morris Vos (1993)
Diane Wangles (1997)
Sally Lo Ware (1990)
Leann L. Wilcoxen (1994)
Andrea Williams (1991)