MHS students earn medals in National German Exam

Fourteen Maricopa High School students placed on the 2019 National German Exam.

Sophomore Rory Pack and freshman Cannon Jones earned gold medals, scoring in the top 10 percent. Freshman Leslie Marrufo earned a silver medal, and freshman Arianna Garcia earned a bronze. Honorable mentions went to juniors James Egelston, Savannah Jones, Levi Watlington, and Cassidy Zimmerman; and freshmen Mandy Carroll, Julie Molina Rodriguez, Victor Moreno, Justine Sanchez Mora, Sarmolue Siefa, Chloe Zimmerman.

“We had an outstanding group of freshmen this year, as you can see,” said German teacher McKay Jones. “Each year is different as far as the make-up of students taking the test around the country, and scores were a lot higher this year. This meant that at least seven other students were extremely close to earning honorable mentions, based on past years results. It also means that several of this year’s honorable mention winners would have won a medal in past years. It all depends on that year’s scores from among 25,000 students. They all did a fantastic job this year!”

Beginning with German 2, national gold medalists are eligible to apply for a summer trip to Germany, paid for by the German government. The application includes essays in German and in English. Selected applicants are interviewed by a committee of AATG (Association of American Teachers of German) members, and state committees send candidates to the AATG national committee. From this group of national finalists, 35 students are selected for the summer trips. Senior Skylar Nelson and sophomore Abigail Poland from MHS were both national finalists in 2019, and Abigail Poland was selected as a trip winner. She will attend school for a month in Aschaffenburg (near Frankfurt), and go on trips and outings to sites of historical and cultural significance.