005 <strong>annuaL</strong> report
NatioNal advisory Board Georg & reidun Gauger Mound, Minn. alfred & ingrid lenz Harrison Wayzata, Minn. Peter & Jane Hesslein seattle, Wash. donald & roma Hoff eau Claire, Wis. Keith & ilene Johanneson Bemidji, Minn. Margaret Cuomo Maier Lattington, n.Y. vivian Mason Minneapolis, Minn. dan & Cynthia Mjolsness Barrington Hills, ill. Hugh & linda Mullenbach potomac, Md. Jon & sophie Pederson spicer, Minn. steven Pollei & solveig storvick Pollei Wayzata, Minn. Wayne & Bev thorson Bemidji, Minn. Cover: Lesnoe ozero’s new site at the former A Place in the Woods resort displays the decorative details of Russian architecture. Left: Japanese villagers perform a kabuki play at International Day. shaping the World For more than 45 years, <strong>Concordia</strong> <strong>Language</strong> <strong>Villages</strong> has been on the cutting edge of language immersion and continues on that distinctive path of educational leadership. this year, a national call for leadership in language education turned the spotlight even brighter on the <strong>Villages</strong>. <strong>Concordia</strong> College president, pamela Jolicoeur, attended the summit on international education at the department of state in January where president Bush committed to the national security <strong>Language</strong> initiative and the importance of linguistic competency. the <strong>Villages</strong> set <strong>Concordia</strong> apart from the 120 other colleges represented, with language training beginning at the precollegiate level. Because of this national focus on strategic languages, doors began opening and new opportunities came our way. this required us to move quickly and to strategically realign our program delivery and related support systems First, we launched the fourteenth <strong>Language</strong> Village, Al-Waha, in october from Capitol Hill in Washington, d.C. then we were awarded a $250,000 appropriation from Congress through the department of state’s youth exchange division to develop the arabic <strong>Language</strong> Village. this new Village carries high hopes for bridge-building between and among our arab neighbors. in november, i joined Minnesota governor tim pawlenty’s trade delegation to China. With 120 delegates, it was the largest group of state business and educational leaders ever sent to China on a trade mission. Former Sen Lin Hu villager, amy Jordan from Hibbing, Minn., also participated. no one doubts the economic and political importance of China, and the call for Chinese in american high schools greatly outpaces the number of qualified teachers. We have offered Chinese for over 20 years and have just doubled the number of summer youth sessions in 2006 due to escalating demand. <strong>Concordia</strong> <strong>Language</strong> <strong>Villages</strong> has the educational resources and knowledge to assist others in addressing this national challenge. this spring president Jolicoeur announced that i would join the president’s Cabinet as Vice president for international development. i look forward to lending my voice to the strategic initiatives that the College and the <strong>Villages</strong> can embark on together. this new role will ensure that the institution’s longstanding commitment to K-16 language learning will evolve and mature. as long as there is a clear vision and an unwavering commitment to mission, everyone can feel revitalized by the ventures and adventures that come our way to help shape the world. Christine schulze executive director, <strong>Concordia</strong> <strong>Language</strong> <strong>Villages</strong> Vice president for international development, <strong>Concordia</strong> College ConCordia <strong>Language</strong> ViLLages
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