Polyglot pupils receive plaudits

Austin Beaudette and Kira Daniels, winners of awards from the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers, pose with their teacher, Lynn Gore (right) and Saugerties High School Foreign Language Department chairwoman Bernadette Dvorak.

Two Saugerties School District students were feeling très bien recently after learning that they had won a state award for their hard work and commitment to learning French.

Saugerties High School senior Austin Beaudette and Saugerties Junior High School eighth grade student Kira Daniels were selected as Mid-Hudson/Westchester region honorees by the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT) earlier this spring. Beaudette won the NYSAFLT Philip A. Fulvi Student Recognition Award and Daniels received the Fulvi Love of Language Award.

Beaudette and Daniels were among only ten students in the state to receive the awards. The Student Recognition Award honors a high school senior who displays a strong interest in language, while the Love of Language award is given to an eighth grade student for excellence in foreign language study. Beaudette also received a $100 check and Daniels received a $50 savings bond.

The two students were nominated for the award by their teacher, Lynn Gore, who has taught French at Saugerties High School for more than 30 years.

“I’m very proud to be their teacher,” Gore said.

In her nomination letter, Gore wrote that Beaudette, who is president of the 60-member SHS French Club, is a hard-working, popular student who acts as a role model to younger club members and has done an outstanding job organizing and running meetings and club events.

Daniels, who maintains a 100 average in French, has been an active member of the French Club and is described by Gore as having a high level of maturity and a passion for the French language.

Beaudette said he felt “awesome” when he learned he had received the award and he’s excited to use the money toward college. Daniels said she was surprised when she was presented with her award at the SJHS Awards Night on June 4. She has already traveled to France and Canada and hopes to do so again to broaden her knowledge of French language and culture.

“There’s so much history, so much great literature. I want to learn as much as I can,” Daniels said.