Isabel Kirkeby and Katie Engevik

Isabel Kirkeby, a sophomore at Hermantown High School, has been awarded an all expense paid summer study trip to Germany.

Isabel was selected as a national winner after scoring in the 90th percentile on the Level 2 2023 National German Exam for High School Students sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). Over 12,300 students participated in the program. After qualifying with a high score on the National German Exam, she submitted responses to several short essay questions in German and in English and was then interviewed by a committee of high school teachers and college professors of German.

Isabel is one of 48 outstanding German students selected from across the US to receive the award, along with eight additional students who are receiving a similar award. The study trip includes round‐trip air transportation to Germany from New York or Newark, a homestay with a host family, and excursions to places of cultural and historical significance.

The study trip, now in its 62nd year, is made possible through a grant from the Federal
Republic of Germany.

“This year’s prize winners are some of the finest students in the US,” said Michael Shaughnessy, Executive Director of the AATG. “The prize is a great reward for excellence in learning German — and the best way to better get to know a fascinating language and culture through firsthand experiences living with a German family and attending school.”

Isabel and the other winners will travel to Germany this summer. She is currently a student of Katie Engevik, a German teacher at Hermantown High School.

When Isabel was in 9th grade, Rebecca Waterhouse was her level 1 German teacher.