Summer school begins Monday, July 8
Two Albany High School students recently took second and third place in the 2019 student essay contest sponsored by the Albany-Tula Alliance.
Junior Amelia Colafati’s essay won the second place award of $500. Colafati spent her elementary years in the Dual-Language Program at Delaware Community School. She discussed the importance of learning foreign languages and benefits of bilingualism in international exchange and diplomacy.
Senior Adam Aleksic’s essay won the third-place award of $250. Aleksic said that if we do as Nelson Mandela urges, shortcomings in current foreign-language education practices can be improved. This is the third year that Aleksic has participated in the essay contest. He won third place in 2017 and first place in 2018.
The students were recognized at a reception on March 29.
In their 1500-word essays, students were asked to consider a quote by Nelson Mandela and discuss how the quote is significant as it relates to the U.S., Russia, language, culture, travel, jobs and tourism. Here's the quote: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
The Albany-Tula Alliance promotes cultural exchange and business development between Albany and the city of Tula, Russia, 125 miles south of Moscow.
The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and prepare all students for college and career, citizenship and life, in partnership with our diverse community. The district serves approximately 9,500 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.
