Junior Hanna Ciechanowski is one of the many hard working students at Walpole High. Normally students who work hard is a common trend at Walpole and students such as her to go without recognition for their dedication. Scoring in the 90th percentile on the National German Exam, Ciechanowski was able to earn some recognition for her hard work in school.
Her outstanding test scores on the exam qualified her to apply for a scholarship for a three week study abroad in Germany. “It would help make my German so much better and it would give me a chance to live the culture,” says Ciechanowski. However, she had to turn down the scholarship. Even though she is not going on the trip, the mere action of receiving the award clearly displays her academic excellence.
After she applied for the scholarship, Ciechanowski got the opportunity to interview with three German professors. After hundreds of intervies, the professors chose Ciechanowski and one other person from Massachusetts to have a chance to study over the summer in Germany. Out of the two students chosen from Massachusetts, the National AATG Board chose Ciechanowski for the scholarship. Their choice made Ciechanowski one of only three people to get the scholarship to study abroad this summer.
Frau Elizabeth Pierce teaches German at Walpole High and was surprised when Ciechanowski was offered an interview to receive the scholarship. Although Pierce recognizes that Ciechanowski is a “remarkable student with a talent for foreign languages,” only three students in the country were selected for the scholarship. Ciechanowski’s confidence during the interview with the board won her the opportunity to expand her cultural horizons.
Ciechanowski’s award not only showed her capabilities as a student, but also shows the success as the language department as a whole. Pierce says “it shows that we have a phenomenal department” which is “successful in teaching more than the traditional Romance languages.” Although the language department at Walpole High is small, “the size does not have an impact on the quality of education,” Pierce said, and Ciechanowski’s scholarship shows the achievements of the department.
The award also provides other students with an example of the cliche that hard work leads to success. Ciechanowski’s success might motivate her peers to work harder and aim for accomplishments similar to hers. Ciechanowski’s efforts in school not only gained herself recognition, they also provide proof that working hard can result in huge achievements.
