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Language Arts

Student Recognition & Awards 2021

Congratulations Students

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.

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 Achievement Award. In addition, faculty may nominate students for our four Language Arts Division Scholarships, with this year's scholarship recipients highlighted in videos below from the nominating faculty.

four faculty faces

It is the privilege of the Language Arts division to honor the following students for our Language Arts Achievement Awards and our Special Scholarships. Please visit both sections below to view those students receiving awards this year!

Language Arts Achievement Awards

Please join us in congratulating our 2021 students recognized for their contributions.

English

STUDENT FACULTY COURSE
Jayme Albritton Stephanie Chan ENGL 22
Gallia Bedolla Stephanie Chan ENGL 1B
Abraham Guerrero Tello Stephanie Chan ENGL 1C
Baylie Jett Mills Stephanie Chan CRWR 6
Armani  Barnes Kimberly Escamilla English 12 & 1B
Stephanie Cinereski Kimberly Escamilla English 1A
Thomas Thompson Kimberly Escamilla English 1A 
Jamison Hall  Tess Hansen ENGL 1C
Keziah Clark Allison  Herman ENGL 1A
Sara  Gonsalves Allison  Herman ENGL 1C 
Adrian Ortiz Allison  Herman ENGL 1A
Donald Wilson Allison  Herman ENGL 1B
Antonio  Arellano Scott Lankford ENGL1B
Baylie Jett Mills Scott Lankford ENGL1B.01W
Mokhalad Aljuboori Brian Lewis ENGL 1A
Baylie Jett Mills Brian Lewis ENGL 1A
Kay Hughes Brian Lewis ENGL 1A
Schyler  Martin Brian Lewis ENGL 37/ENGL 1A
Nikoloz Jokhadze Jim McDonald English 1A
Karen Lopez Jim McDonald  
Viviana Aguilar Natalia Menendez ENGL 1S
Shawn  Dixon Natalia Menendez ENGL 1T
Manny Ruiz Natalia Menendez ENGL 16
Mckenna Gibson Richard Mills  ENGL 1B
Maziar Montazer Richard Mills  ENGL 1A
Elena  Burger Doren Robbins ENGL F017
Georgia Fakoukaki Doren Robbins ENGL 1B
Disha Shidham Doren Robbins ENGL 11H1HW 
Katia Bent Isabel Sperry ENGL 1A
Toby Fuchs Isabel Sperry ENGL 1C
Jessica Marroquin Isabel Sperry ENGL 1A
Ashlyn Winkel Isabel Sperry ENGL 1A

English for Second Language Learners

STUDENT FACULTY COURSE
Nara Arakelyan Robert Lanz NCEL 425 
Shirley Festa Robert Lanz NCEL 405  
Lixia Yan Robert Lanz NCEL 425 
Shirley Festa Amy Sarver NCEL 471
Marie Moll Amy Sarver NCEL 425 
Silvia Morales Amy Sarver NCEL 421 
Marina Shlimenzon Amy Sarver NCEL 423

Foreign Languages

STUDENT FACULTY COURSE
Niall Doherty Ikuko Rakow JAPN 2
Wendy Nishizaki Ikuko Rakow JAPN 2
Anton Smirnov Ikuko Rakow JAPN 3
Eric Huyn Julio Rivera-Montanez Spanish 2
Peter Katapodis Julio Rivera-Montanez Spanish 1
Victoria Stood Julio Rivera-Montanez Spanish 13A

Teaching and Learning Center

STUDENT NOMINATOR COURSE
Hanyi He Katherine Lee, TLC program coordinator; and Ileana da Silva, TLC faculty coordinator NCLA 406A

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 (Two at $500)

Congratulations!

NICOLE MENSICK
nominated by Susie Huerta

&

WENDY RODRIGUEZ
nominated by Stephanie Chan

recipients of this year’s
Nancy Schrier Award

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.


Video from faculty SUSIE HUERTA, nominating NICOLE MENSICK


Video from faculty STEPHANIE CHAN, nominating WENDY RODRIGUEZ

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

Congratulations!

JAYDEN MURRAY-HOUSTON
recipient of this year’s
Jason Whitten Memorial Award

nominated by Kimberly Escamilla

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.


Video from faculty KIMBERLY ESCAMILLA, nominating JAYDEN MURRAY-HOUSTON


Video with thank you from scholarship recipient JAYDEN MURRAY-HOUSTON

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

Congratulations!

VANESSA HATAKEYAMA
recipient of this year’s
Anne Paye Award for Demonstrated Facility with Language

nominated by Stephanie Chan

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 or 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.


Video from faculty STEPHANIE CHAN, nominating VANESSA HATAKEYAMA

 

Meet Vanessa

 

Acceptance Message

Meet Vanessa  

I am honored and humbled to be selected for this year’s Anne Paye award, and so grateful for the enduring support, encouragement and inspiration from my Foothill professors and fellow classmates. I would like to sincerely thank Professor Stephanie Chan for lifting me up throughout the year, indulging my wandering questions at countless office hour sessions, and for helping me find my voice in a time when I felt a need to speak up and express myself, but didn’t quite know how. Being able to engage in creative writing and immerse myself in literature over the last year was an unexpected gift, helping me to process my thoughts and emotions, allowing me to persevere throughout the pandemic and to find a path forward—and I am so excited to see where that path leads. Thank you!

Fred H. McClure ESL Award (Two at $500)

Congratulations!

SONIA HERNANDEZ

&

MARIA PICO HERNANDEZ

both nominated by Amy Sarver

recipients of this year’s
Fred H. McClure ESL Award 
$500 each

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 grown, to highlight their persistence, perseverance, and eagerness to reach beyond the standard outcomes of a course.


Video from faculty AMY SARVER, nominating SONIA HERNANDEZ

 


Video from faculty AMY SARVER, nominating MARIA PICO HERNANDEZ

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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