Marcellus Senior High School Principal, John Durkee Receives Outstanding Administrator Award

Congratulations go out to John Durkee, Marcellus Senior High School principal, who was selected as the recipient of the American Association of Teachers of French (AAFT) Outstanding Administrator Award sponsored by the AAFT, Concordia Language Villages and the French Embassy. Mr. Durkee was selected for “the outstanding job he has done in the promotion of the study of languages, in general, and French, in particular” at Marcellus Senior High School. As a result of the award Heather Heinekamp, Class of 2011, Marcellus Senior High School has been awarded a two week, all expenses paid, learning experience at Concordia Language Villages. Heather was selected based on the following criteria:
· A student in French IV who is continuing on to French V
· A student who demonstrates high achievement and consistent work ethic in French
· A student with an interest in continuing the study of French at the college level
This exceptional honor is awarded to only one student in the entire nation. The Concordia Language Villages are affiliated with Concordia College and the program’s culturally authentic year-round sites are located in the beautiful natural setting of northern Minnesota. The mission of the Concordia Language Villages program is to “prepare young people for responsible citizenship in our global community”. The village learning experience offers the opportunity for participants to “learn about French language and culture in an immersion setting. Students live in the language and culture of the French speaking world “from the moment they wake up in the morning to the close of the day”. The program teaches language and culture in global contexts, drawing from the areas of geography, history, political science, and international relations. Experience based learning is emphasized in every aspect of the curriculum. Additionally, the Concordia Languages Villages are “committed to helping participants reconnect with the natural world” through integrated environmental education activities and experiences. The total Concordia Language Village learning adventure has an estimated value of $6000! Once again, congratulations go out to John Durkee and to Heather Heinekamp for this extraordinary achievement.