Garden City High School Student Awarded Study Trip To Germany, National Winner

GARDEN CITY, NY — A Garden City High School student has been awarded a study trip to Germany.

Tenth-grader Susanna Phinney will be studying in Germany in an all-expenses-paid summer trip after being named a national winner on the Level 3 2026 National German Exam for high school students, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German.

Phinney earned a high score on the exam, which then advanced her to a round of written responses in both German and English, and an interview process. More than 12,000 students participated in the program, and Phinney was selected as one of 36 students to be awarded the trip.

The program, which is in its 66th year, will include round-trip airfare, a homestay with a host family, and excursions throughout Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany supplied a grant for the program.

"Her dedication, curiosity and passion for learning the language truly set her apart, and this is a well-deserved recognition of her hard work," German Teacher Frau Basile said.