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Language Arts

Student Recognition Awards 2024

Congratulations to our students!

students holding certificate surrounded by family memberCongratulations to all our students recognized for their contributions at this year's Language Arts division ceremony, and thank you to all the family members, friends, faculty, and scholarship donors who helped make it special.

Find more photos from the event in the scholarship section below and on our downloadable celebration photo gallery.

A Language Arts Division Tradition

For more than thirty years, with generous support from Bruce Swenson, former president of the FHDA Board of Trustees, the Language Arts Awards have brought students, faculty, staff and administrators from Foothill's English, Foreign Language, and ESL departments together to celebrate our shared creativity, courage, and commitment as a learning community. This year, we are pleased to add students and faculty from the college's new Ethnic Studies program.

Celebrating Student Words, Wisdom & Action

Instead of being based solely on grades or tests, these awards celebrate the words, wisdom, and actions of students for each quarter — all of whom have overcome enormous obstacles to achieve success in college. In addition, these same students have reached out to assist and inspire others to succeed and thrive as well.

Those who receive an award can feel proud that their professor carefully selected them for praise and acknowledgment from among many dozens or even hundreds of students. And they should know that the extra effort and care and love they poured into their classes is an inspiration to all of us. 

Our Celebration is Twofold

All faculty may select students in their classes to honor with a Language Arts Recognition Award. In addition, faculty may nominate students for our four Language Arts Division Scholarships, with this year's scholarship recipients highlighted below from the nominating faculty.

It is the privilege of the Language Arts division to honor the following students for our Language Arts Recognition Awards and our Special Scholarships. 

Language Arts Recognition Awards 2024

Language Arts Awards Ceremony 2024

Congratulations to all our students recognized for their contributions at our division ceremony on June 14, 2024. Please watch our video from this year's event and visit both sections below to view those students receiving awards this year!

WATCH THE ZOOM RECORDING 

Student Recognition by Department

English


Student Faculty
Yumna Saiyed Allison Herman
Ekaterina (Kat) Shabarshina Allison Herman
Leilany Navarro Benjamin Armerding
Ilai Wakrat Benjamin Armerding
Sophie Pasumansky Brian Lewis
Charlie Ramirez Brian Lewis
Lenard Alvarez Hilda Fernandez
Denise Gomez Hilda Fernandez
Adeline Muscat Isabel Sperry
Hector Santos Isabel Sperry
Sophia Howell James Mcdonald
Brynn Walther James Mcdonald
Andrew Anaya Jordana Griffiths
Patricia Carrasco Jordana Griffiths
Michael Herrera Natalia Menendez
Jenette Lemoto Natalia Menendez
Sumi Chae Rachael Dworsky
Luis (Jacob) Martinez Rachael Dworsky
Jonatas Secco Samuel White
Katel Fong Scott Lankford
Sydney Ear Stephanie Chan
Austin Quan Stephanie Chan
Andre Bracket Stephanie King
Jaleel Jones Stephanie King
Eliana Randazzo Stephanie King

English for Second Language Learners

Student Faculty
Oleksii Liashenko Amy Sarver
Maria del Socorro Macias Amy Sarver
Sia (Anastaciia) Braichuk Katie Ha
Ayako Wilson Katie Ha
Socorro Castaneda Robert Lanz

 

Ethnic Studies

Student Faculty
Marvin Hernandez Flores Ulysses Acevedo

Japanese

Student Faculty
(Richard) Doug Mills Ikuko Rakow
Santiago Torres Gonzalez Ikuko Rakow

Spanish

Student Faculty
Mark Bakunin Julio Rivera-Montanez
Monique Lane Julio Rivera-Montanez
Rebecca Boyle Patricia Crespo-Martin
Julie-Ann Nguyen Patricia Crespo-Martin
Jonathan Uhler Patricia Crespo-Martin
Yuhuan (Mike) Xie Patricia Crespo-Martin
Christopher Oakes Rocio Giraldez Betron
Melanie Jalpa Patricia Crespo-Martin

Language Arts Special Scholarships

Thanks to the generosity of donors who are committed to honoring our students, we are proud to announce recipients of the following special scholarships.

Scholarship Criteria: Recipients were nominated by the faculty in the division and selected by a committee of division representatives.

Nancy G. Schrier Creative Writing Award ($1000)

Congratulations!

MARVIN HERNANDEZ FLORES

recipient of this year’s
Nancy Schrier Award

nominated by
SUZY QUEZADA and ULYSSES ACEVEDO
Meet Marvin Hernandez Flores and Ulysses Acevedo and Suzy Quezada

 

About the Scholarship

Nancy G. Schrier was an enthusiastic teacher at Foothill College for 25 years and enjoyed sharing her passion for poetry and fiction with students. The purpose of this fund is to provide annual award(s) to Foothill student(s) nominated and chosen by Foothill Language Arts faculty. Specifically, the award is for a student who has taken at least one English class in the current academic year and has demonstrated a passion for creative writing and/or poetry.  Special consideration is given to those students who have persevered in the face of challenges to pursue their education.

Jason Whitten Memorial Award for Outstanding English Students ($1000)

Congratulations!

BENJI BENGSTON

recipient of this year’s
Jason Whitten Memorial Award

Meet Scott Lankford and Benji Bengston


nominated by
SCOTT LANKFORD

About the Scholarship

This award honors a student who has taken at least one English class in the current academic year, has persevered in the face of challenges to pursue their education, and who has become an outstanding student in English as demonstrated through their writing. The student should have a passion for reading and writing but have also overcome adversity to succeed at Foothill.

Anne Paye Award for Demonstrated Facility with Language ($500)

Congratulations!

LAN NGUYEN
recipient of this year’s
Anne Paye Award for Demonstrated Facility with Language

nominated by
RACHAEL DWORSKY

Meet Lan Nguyen and Rachael Dworsky

About the Scholarship

Over her long career as an English faculty member at Foothill College, Anne Paye evinced a profound appreciation for the novel use of language. This award is given to a Language Arts student who has demonstrated a similar love of language. The student’s writing may not have been perfect or free of error, but it showcased language in new, interesting, and/or exciting ways; the student might have marshaled unexpected evidence in support of an argument, or they may have turned a phrase so exactly that the reader was given pause to reflect. The student’s writing should call attention to itself both for its precision and its insight.

Fred H. McClure ESL Award ($750)

Congratulations!


to our two recipients of this year’s

Fred McClure ESL Award

Meet Fernanda Osorio and Amy Sarver and Katie Ha

FERNANDA OSORIO
nominated by
AMY SARVER


Meet Zubair Rahimi and Katie Ha

ZUBAIR RAHIMI
nominated by
KATIE HA

About the Scholarship

This award is for non-native English speakers who have distinguished themselves in an ESLL or English class. This recognition should go to exemplary students whose work and work ethic demonstrated a commitment to learning and excelling. The students may not necessarily have been “A” students, but should have demonstrated through class work and participation an above average engagement in the learning process. The award recognizes the students’ determination to learn and grow, to highlight their persistence, perseverance, and eagerness to reach beyond the standard outcomes of a course.

Past Award Celebrations

6000 Building

Questions?
We're Here to Help!

Sheherazade Arasnia,  Language Arts Division

650.949.7250


arasniasheherazade@fhda.edu


Bldg. 6400, Room 6406

Office Hours

Wednesday and Thursday 8 AM - 4 PM

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