DUNKIRK - The Chautauqua County Foreign Language Teachers' Association held its spring dinner recently at The Fireside Manor in Dunkirk.
In attendance were current and retired foreign language teachers from Brocton, Chautauqua Lake, Dunkirk, Falconer, Forestville, Maple Grove, Sherman, Southwestern and the State University at Fredonia.
At the dinner, the association honored Michael Russin, the organization's high school scholarship recipient and a senior at Chautauqua Lake Central School, and Kyle Reimer, its college scholarship recipient and senior at the SUNY Fredonia. Russin has studied all levels of Spanish at Chautauqua Lake, including a JCC-level course and has taught himself two additional languages as well. While a student at Chautauqua Lake, Russin has served as class president, co-president of Student Administration and has participated in High School Bowl, football and wrestling. Additionally, Russin has been honored as a National Scholar Athlete, Student of the Month, and Scholar-Athlete of the Month.
Russin will attend Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., in the fall, where he plans to major in chemistry and Spanish. He is the son of Robert and Lisa Russin of Mayville.
Reimer has studied both French and Spanish at Fredonia while majoring in French/adolescence education. While a student at Fredonia, Reimer was a resident assistant, helped with departmental open houses and tours, and served as production manager for a play produced by the Modern Language department. Reimer's plans after graduation are to teach English in France for seven to nine months through a program with the French government. After completing the program, Reimer would like to pursue a master's degree in French at the State University at Buffalo and one day teach high school French in the local area. Reimer is the son of Michael and Debra Reimer of North Tonawanda.
Also present at the dinner was John Carlino, executive director of New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers. Carlino talked to CCFLTA members about the importance of foreign language education as well as the 93nd annual NYSAFLT conference will be held in Rochester from October 15-17. The theme is "The iGeneration: New Attitudes, New Concepts, New Ideas.''
The current officers for the CCFLTA are: Michelle Crowell, president, foreign language teacher at Brocton Central School; John Antosh, vice president, assistant German professor at the State University at Fredonia; Julia Morrison, secretary, foreign language teacher at Brocton Central School; Edward Kolodziej, treasurer, retired French teacher from Dunkirk City Schools and currently teaching French courses at Fredonia; and Rachael Spring, website administrator.
For more information, visit the organization's website at www.ccflta.org.
