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AATSP-GA
Professor of the Year Sarah E. Blackwell University of Georgia Georgia AATSP has named Sarah Blackwell as
the outstanding Spanish teacher at the university level for 2009. A graduate of Northwestern University, Dr. Blackwell earned
her Master's in Spanish from Middlebury College and her Doctoral degree in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Pittsburgh. Following educational career assignments at institutions in
Madrid, as well as in Pennsylvania and Virgina, in 1994, Dr. Blackwell joined the department of Romance Languages at the University
of Georgia, where she holds the rank of Associate Professor of Spanish. Her superior teaching has been recognized at UGA with
a Lilly Teaching Fellowship and an Instructional Improvement Grant.
The Chapter's honoree is a recognized expert on Spanish pragmatics, with a lengthy and impressive list of scholarly publications,
conference presentations, and academic honors. She has directed numerous graduate theses in Spanish at UGA, and has also participated
in service outreach programs for the benefit of students and other members of the Athens area community. She serves on the
UGA GSTEP committee and represents the Department of Romance Languages as Education Liaison with Spanish programs in the local
area high schools. Administrators, colleagues, and former students have provided enthusiastic endorsements to the nomination
of Dr. Sarah E. Blackwell for the AATSP-GA POTY award, which was presented by the Chapter POTY Committee Chair, Anita R. Picas
this spring.
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AATSP-GA High
School Teacher of the Year Salima
Bacchus Cedar Shoals High School AATSP-GA is pleased to honor
Mrs. Salima Bacchus of Cedar Shoals High School in Athens as Georgia's Outstanding High School Spanish Teacher for 2009. A graduate of the University of Guyana, Mrs. Bacchus
earned her Master's degree in Education at the University of Georgia. Following teaching assignments in Guyana and St. Lucia,
she joined the foreign language department at Cedar Shoals High School in 1989. Her achievements include the development of
highly successful teaching strategies to prepare students for success in the AP Spanish Examinations. In selecting Salima Bacchus as Teacher of the Year,
the Executive Board of Georgia AATSP recognizes her professional contributions to a wide range of programs that promote foreign
language learning in Georgia. She has sponsored award-winning student participants in state and national contests, including
the National Spanish Examination, AATSP-GA Composition Contests, and regional declamation events. She is the sponsor of the
Cedar Shoals High School chapter of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. Throughout the academic year, Mrs. Bacchus coordinates
the more traditional classroom course work with innovative activities that focus on developing skills in reality-based social
settings. She continually encourages her students to participate in community activities and service programs that foster
intercultural awareness and harmony.
The Spanish Teacher of the Year award was formally presented by TOTY Committee Chair, Anita R. Picas, during the May induction
ceremony for the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica at Cedar Shoals High School.
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AATSP-GA
University Student of the Year Gilbert
Lewis Augusta State University
Mr. Gilbert Lewis,
an Augusta State University student, has been selected as the 2009 University Spanish Student of the Year by the Georgia Chapter
of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Gilbert demonstrates both his talent and love for Spanish
both on campus and in his community. Dr. Sandarg, his nominating professor, says, "Gilbert serves as a model to
Americans because he has been able to become near-native fluent without leaving this area, which is truly amazing." His
language experiences beyond the classroom include: being an active member of the Spanish Club, tutoring students in Spanish
at ASU, working as an interpreter and a writer for the local bilingual newspaper, Hola, Augusta, and building friendships
with members of the Spanish-speaking community.
Gilbert's honors and awards include: Superior rating for his essay in the 2008 University Composition Contest sponsored by
AATSP-GA, and the Hispanic Outstanding Leadership Award (HOLA) for Youth Leader. In April, 2009, Gilbert became a member of
Alpha Mu Gamma, the national collegiate foreign language honor society.
Mr. Lewis was recognized for his achievement in Spanish with a plaque from AATSP-GA.
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AATSP-GA
High School Student of the Year Agata Rzucidlo,
Cedar Shoals High School
The Georgia Chapter of AATSP has selected Agata Rzucidlo of Athens as the 2009 High School Spanish Student of the Year. Agata, a junior at Cedar Shoals High School, was nominated by
her Advanced Placement Spanish teacher, Mrs. Salima Bacchus. In addition to her record of exceptionally high achievement
in accelerated Spanish classes, Agata has earned an impressive number of honors and awards in state and national spoken and
written language competitions. These awards include: award placement on the National Spanish Exam, in the Spanish Composition
Contest, in the Clemson University Declamation Contest, and has been awarded the SHH Junior Travel Award 2009. She
currently serves as the Vice-President of the Cedar Shoals High School Chapter of the Spanish Honor Society. Agata was chosen
to attend the Governor's Honors Program in 2008. Her independent projects include the study and practice of various Hispanic
dance forms. The GA AATSP selection committee was
impressed by numerous examples of this award-winning student's determination to excel through immersion in the foreign language,
as well as the testimony of teachers and counselors who commended her dedication and leadership in service to school and community.
A commemorative plaque was awarded tp Agata Rzucidlo in recognition of her accomplishments as Spanish Student of the Year
at the secondary school level.
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AATSP-GA Middle School Student of the Year Keisha Bennett, Woodland Middle School at Euharlee
The Georgia Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese has named Cartersville
resident Keisha Bennett as the Middle School Spanish Student of the Year for 2009. Keisha is an eighth grade student at Woodland Middle School, where she is enrolled
in Spanish for high school credit and was selected for membership in the Amistad Spanish Honor Society. Her original artwork
on Hispanic themes was submitted to the annual AATSP ES/MS Poster Contest, and she achieved Honorable Mention (Premio) on
the 2009 National Spanish Exam. In addition to active
participation in extracurricular sports, All-State Chorus, and WMSE Ambassadorship, Keisha Bennett has worked on volunteer
service and fund-raising activities to benefit needy Hispanic families both locally and abroad. Her teachers and counselors
have endorsed her nomination with praise for the successes she has achieved in academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits.
The commemorative plaque for the AATSP-GA Spanish Student of the Year was presented by Keisha's sponsoring teacher, Dr.
Candace Murdock of Woodland Middle School at Euharlee.
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