Six Rising Stars in German Studies were awarded this year. Rising Stars are new students in the German Program who have impressed the faculty with their progress, dedication and curiosity regarding German language and culture. This years awardees are:

• Katherine Ragan
• Hannah Reeves
• Sasha Ronsayro
• Marshall Sears
• Elizabeth Walters
• Madison West

Moving from newcomers to seniors in German Studies, we welcomed 13 new members to Delta Phi Alpha, the national German Honor Society. Delta Phi Alpha was founded in 1929, and Elon’s chapter Upsilon Omikron was established in 2018. We welcome the following students to Delta Phi Alpha:

• Colin Blount
• Fiona Hodge
• Haley Johnson
• Elisabeth Holmes
• Tori Layton
• Brooke Allen Menzock
• Sarah T. Moore
• Patrick Tuohy
• Zoe Richardson
• Matthew Rostan
• Taylor Salmon
• Elina Shah
• Cayden Williamson

The German Studies faculty also awarded three students with achievement awards. The Marsilius von Inghen Award was awarded to Tori Layton and Haley Johnson. The award recognizes Tori and Haley’s excellence in German language proficiency, cultural competence, and ľĂľĂČČ research. The award was named after Marsilius von Inghen, the first president of Heidelberg Universität, which both, Tori and Haley, attended during their semester abroad.

Sarah T. Moore was awarded the inaugural Moffitt-Newman Award. The Moffitt-Newman award recognizes academic achievement and sustained service to the German program. It is named for the earliest instructors of German at Elon, Emmett Moffitt and the Reverend John Urquhart Newman, who taught German beginning in the 1890s. Moore started learning German at Elon, and has taken it every year. She has also been an officer of the German Club and its president in 2025-26.

The festivities were accompanied by a delicious spread of German-inspired food put together by Elon’s Harvest Table, including Spätzle and Schnitzel.

Performers can either do karaoke, sing an original song, or lip sync — the one stipulation is that it must be in a language other than English. This year, there were 14 performances with songs in 10 different languages: French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Italian, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, and Old French/Latin.

Global Vision was inspired by the Euro Vision Song Contest, which has been hosted since 1956. However, the event at Elon is for languages across the globe, not only languages spoken in Europe.

Elon’s performers were rated in the categories singing, language skills, and performance by Sandy Marshall (Global Neighborhood), Bethanny Sudibyo (World Languages and Cultures), Trudy Arling (Polygot LLC RA), and Joel Thomas (ľĂľĂČČ Safety and Police).

There were three prize baskets for the winners filled with international candies, snacks and drinks. In addition to the sweet treats, the first-place winners also went home with a trophy!

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

• 1st place – Vee Brown performed in Italian
• 2nd place – Emma Arruda performed in French
• 3rd place – Tamar Kalisher performed in French/Latin

Elon’s sixth Global Vision Song Contest is scheduled for Spring 2027.

Associate Professor Scott Windham and Assistant Professor Kristin Lange presented in a panel on multi-level language courses. Inspired by a student’s idea, they have started ľĂľĂČČ first and second semester German as one course, i.e. two-course levels in one room. Teaching Elon’s beginning sequence as multi-level courses has boosted the German program’s retention and created a strong sense of community and belonging among our students. Windham and Lange shared details about the developmental process, curriculum, sample assignments and student feedback with a captive audience, as well as highlighted challenges and opportunities that they have experienced with multi-level courses at Elon.

Lange also organized a panel on successful and sustainable outreach strategies at all levels. Lange collaborated with colleagues from Montclair State University, Franklin & Marshall College, and Mahopac High & Mahopac Middle Schools, were they shared outreach initiatives with the audience that successfully connected German learners at all levels, from K-12 to college. Lange’s presentation focused on North Carolina German Day, which Elon hosted in March 2023 and which brought over 250 middle and high school students to Elon’s campus.

Elon’s chapter of Delta Phi Alpha, the national German honor society,  inducted its newest members and celebrated with them on May 5.

Associate Professor Scott Windham and Assistant Professor Kristin Lange welcomed the new inductees and congratulated them on their academic success in German Studies. This year’s inductees showcase the diversity students find in German Studies, both in the multiple fields of study and career opportunities that are represented with them. “Each of you has found their unique path with German Studies, and you have made it your own”, said Assistant Professor Kristin Lange during the ceremony.

The National German Honor Society, known as Delta Phi Alpha, was founded in 1929 and has over 300 chapters in the United States. The society promotes the study of German language, literature and civilization and offers chapter grants and student scholarships. Elon’s chapter, Upsilon Omicron, was founded in 2018.

2021 Delta Phi Alpha Inductees:

Caren Sulexma Aveldañez ’21, Public Health Studies

Cassidy Beal ’21, Cinema & Television Arts

Catherine Howitt ’21, International & Global Studies

Olivia Leggett ’22, Economics

Alexandra Kristin Roberts ’23, International Business Dual Degree

Eliza Hollin Sanders ’21, Creative Writing

There will be holiday card making in different languages, Greek temple building with graham crackers, delicious holiday food, hot chocolate and cider, and a performance by Hannah Strickland. Everyone is invited.