Plainfield High School Student Wins Trip to Germany

Submitted by the American Association of Teachers of German

Rachael Lau, a student at Plainfield North High School in Plainfield, Illinois, has been awarded an all-expense-paid summer study trip to Germany.

Rachael was selected as a national winner after scoring in the 91st percentile on the Level 3 2015 National German Exam for High School Students sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). Nearly 21,000 students participated in the program. After qualifying with a high score on the National German Exam, she submitted responses to several short essay questions in German and in English and was then interviewed by a committee comprised of high school teachers and college professors of German.

Rachael is one of 44 outstanding German students selected from across the U.S. to receive the award. The study trip includes round-trip air transportation to Germany from New York, a homestay in a host family, and excursions to places of cultural and historical significance. The study trip award is made possible through a grant from the Federal Republic of Germany.

“This program gives students the chance to experience Germany firsthand by living with a German family and attending school,” said Keith Cothrun, executive director of the AATG. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Rachael and the other winners will travel to Germany this summer. She is a student of Ms. Jennifer Knop, German teacher at Plainfield North. Founded in 1926, the AATG represents German teachers at all levels of instruction. The AATG is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the teaching of language, literature and culture of the German-speaking countries.