FOR STUDENTS

Dear MAFLA members,

Please consider using these Press Releases for your students who receive MAFLA Awards.  Please edit them to meet your needs or consider interviewing the students about their experience learning languages at your school.  Click on the links below for the press releases. Please share any press articles with the Student Awards Committee Chair, Amy St. Arnaud, so MAFLA can also share them.  She can be reached at astarnaud@nashobatech.net

2026 Sample Press Release

 

Student Contests have ended for 2026.  Keep an eye on this page
next February for information on the 2027 Contests.

Questions?  Contact Amy St. Arnaud

2026 Student Awards 

Message from MAFLA

Dear Educators,

On behalf of the MAFLA Board of Directors and Student Awards, Contests, and Scholarships Committee, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication to promoting and celebrating world languages. Together, as MAFLA members, we foster a commitment to multilingualism and advocate for world-class language instruction that is truly inspiring.
We know you have amazing students who deserve recognition for their achievements and contributions.  We are happy to help you celebrate this.

This award is closed for this year.  Thanks to all of our dedicated members who submitted their students for recognition.  Student Awards will return in February, 2026.  Watch this space. 

Please consider nominating your exceptional students for these awards.  We also encourage you to celebrate recipients at your spring awards ceremonies.  Please also consider submitting a press release to your local press as well as your school’s newsletters and social media.

Warm Regards,

The MAFLA Board of Directors, and the Student Awards, Contests, and Scholarships Committee

Questions?  Contact Amy St. Arnaud

The Past Presidents’ Awards, presented by MAFLA, honor high school seniors who have excelled in world language studies and demonstrated exceptional leadership and service. Each year, up to four awards of $500 are granted to students who have completed their world languages program and are planning to continue their language studies. In addition to academic achievement, candidates must show service or leadership within their school or community, such as through tutoring or involvement in language clubs.

• Must be a senior currently enrolled in an intermediate or higher-level World Languages course.
• Must be a High Honors student in World Languages courses.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to future language study or immersion beyond high school.
• Must have completed multiple language courses exceeding the graduation requirement.
• Must have earned or attempted to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, if available in their school district.

• Must have utilized their language proficiency, cultural interest, and leadership skills in service to the school or community. Examples include founding or leading a language-related club, tutoring, assisting in community integration, or conducting school tours in the studied language.
• Schools nominating a student must have at least one current MAFLA member on their world languages staff and this person should submit the nomination. The nominee must also be enrolled in a high school in Massachusetts. There should only be one nomination per school.

• Nomination must include candidate written statement in English.
• Nomination must include letter of endorsement from nominating teacher.

Congratulations to MAFLA members Ellen Toubman of Medfield High School, Regina Symonds of Triton High School, Anke Herbert of Fontbonne Academy, and Amy St. Arnaud of Nashoba Tech, and their students for receiving this scholarship in 2025.

                   This contest is closed for 20226

Watch this space next February for the 2027 awards.

 

Questions?  Contact Amy St. Arnaud