German Language and School Society of Wisconsin celebrates its 60th anniversary

The German Language and School Society of Wisconsin (DSSV) will celebrate its 60th anniversary this weekend with its annual awards ceremony held on Sunday, May 1 at Marquette University High School.

The awards ceremony begins at 3 p.m., and is free and open to the public. 

Serving as a special speaker at this year’s ceremony is Germany’s Consul General Herbert Quelle, who has worked in the German Foreign Ministry for 35 years, including posts on multiple continents, has been head of the German Consulate General in Chicago since July 2014. Also scheduled to speak at the event is Milwaukee native Joseph Wippl, a former CIA officer with 30 years of experience in the National Clandestine Service – including several years in Germany – as well as 10 years as a Practice of International Relations instructor at Boston University. 

In addition to the two special speakers, Sunday’s ceremony will award more than $10,000 to outstanding high school learners of German based on the National German Exam of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). Over the last three years, the DSSV has awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships and prizes to deserving high school learners of German based on taking part in the DSSV’s annual essay contest, as well as the National German Exam. 

The DSSV also helps select nominees for the AATG/PAD Study Trip Award, sending dozens of high school students to Germany on multi-week study trips. Mukwonago High School sophomore Joseph Washburn is this year’s winner of a three-week study trip.  

Established in 1956, the DSSV’s primary goal is to promote and stimulate interest in and understanding of the German language and culture.