ACTFL and the Language Connects Foundation (LCF) are delighted to announce the selection of the 2023 awardees of the Lead with Languages Teacher Scholarship Program.
The program provides merit-based funding to graduating high school seniors committed to pursuing the language teaching profession in languages other than English. Scholars receive an annual award of $1,500 per academic year, renewable to a cumulative total of $6,000 per recipient and a complimentary ACTFL membership during and for one year following their participation in the program.
The fifth class of Lead with Languages Teacher Scholars includes 20 awardees who hail from 14 home states and plan to teach seven languages other than English—including ASL, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Demonstrative of LCF’s commitment to expanding existing support for current and future educators, this incoming class doubles the size of previous cohorts, significantly increasing the program’s impact on the future educator pipeline.
When asked about their motivations to teach, recipients noted the importance of language educators in their own lives, as well as desires to share and celebrate their heritage and leave an impact on future generations.
One Scholar explained:
I have experienced how it feels to be taught by someone who loves what they do, as well as how it feels to love teaching, which is something I aim to further in my future classroom.
As our country continues to face the challenge of a language educator shortage in nearly every state, ACTFL and LCF continue to prioritize efforts to recruit, retain, and support a diverse, well-trained, and passionate teacher workforce.
For those wishing to support future awardees of this scholarship program, more information is available at Language Connects Foundation.
Press Release
Contact Info: Erin Whelchel, 703.894.2900 ext.124