Kaitlin Pace selected for competitive 2015 STARTALK Academy
WHS freshman will spend two weeks this summer on UNL campus studying Chinese language & culture
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe accomplishments of Wahoo High School students this year have been numerous, and WHS freshman Kaitlin Pace has added another success to the list.
Pace has been awarded a competitive grant to participate in the 2015 STARTALK program, sponsored by the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln!
STARTALK is a 14-day on-campus Chinese language, culture and technology summer academy for 25 select Nebraska high school students interested in learning Chinese.
According to the STARTALK website, participants will receive 150 hours of instruction during the academy. This year's theme is "Experiencing Chinese Festivals through the Five Senses," and the curriculum will focus on gaining language skills, cultural understanding and digital media expertise.
This experience will not only enable students to be immersed in the Chinese language and culture, but will also allow them to become proficient in using iPads as a language learning tool. All expenses related to the Academy are covered, including housing, meals and supplies. Participants will live in dorms at UNL during the academy.
Pace has been selected from a group of over 100 students who applied!
"Katie is a natural language learner!" commented WHS Spanish Instructor Cass Griffin. "This will be an excellent opportunity for her to further her love of language and culture. I am excited for the connections she will make!"
Opportunities like this oftentimes lead to bigger and better opportunities for students.
Pace is the second WHS student in recent years to be chosen for this honor. WHS senior Tyler Ruzicka attended the STARTALK program during the summer of 2013. He will depart for Beijing this fall, where he will complete a year-long study of China, thanks to a National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship.
"What a tremendous opportunity for Katie!" WHS Principal Jason Libal stated. "She has demonstrated that you don't have to just be a junior or senior to qualify and participate in an outstanding program such as STARTALK. I am very proud of Katie for making an immediate and powerful impact on our high school."
Congratulations Kaitlin on this impressive accomplishment!