MIWLA Distinguished Service Award

The MIWLA Distinguished Service Award was established in 2014 and is given in recognition of exemplary service to the Michigan World Language Association and/or the profession at large. The MIWLA Executive Board nominates candidates and selects the recipient of the Award. Selection criteria may include holding leadership positions within MIWLA and/or other language organizations, serving as a chair or member of MIWLA committees, representing MIWLA in a national or international capacity, and/or other exemplary service to professional organizations or the profession at large.

Congratulations to our 2024 Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Kathy López!

Kathy has been the SCECH Coordinator for MIWLA since 2017, making sure that conference, workshop, and summer institute programs are approved by the MDE so that attendees are eligible to earn SCECHs. This position was a perfect complement to Kathy’s role as Certification Officer in the College of Education at Saginaw Valley State University as both deal with educator preparation and progression. Kathy’s involvement with MIWLA, however, dates to 1998, when she joined as a requirement for Anne Nerenz’s graduate methods course at Eastern Michigan University. In addition to earning the M.A./Spanish at EMU, Kathy also has a M.P.A./Bilingual Administration from the University of Michigan. 

Kathy taught beginning- and intermediate-level Spanish courses at SVSU as an adjunct instructor for 24 years. As a long-time member of the campus chapters of Alpha Mu Gamma and Sigma Delta Pi, she continues to support and participate in their ceremonies and cultural activities.

In addition to her role with MIWLA, Kathy is a national volunteer for the sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha where she currently serves on the Ritual Coaching Team.

Past Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award

2023 Jason Paetz

2022 Brooke K. Murphy

2021 Allysen Clancy

2020 Daniel Noren

2019 Brenda Schnarrs

2018 Carol Chaudhri

2017 Joy Campbell

2016 George P. Mansour

2015 Linda Marlow

2014 Margaret Cottrill