Stork Awards in German Studies are given out annually to encourage student participation in a recognized institutional Canadian-organized German language or cultural studies program abroad. These awards are made possible by a generous donation by the Stork Family. Each award recipient writes a 'thank you' letter to the Stork family in recognition of the family's contribution to the students' trips. Here are a few testimonials from some of our 2022 recipients. Click each name to read an excerpt from their letters.
My time in Germany was a treat.
Alexandra Chafe
"I am currently graduated from McGill University and will be doing my Master’s at Queen’s University in the fall, studying Art History, focusing on German art, and the German Language. As such, my time in Germany was a treat for these two interests. During my time in Kassel, I was able to visit many places, such as the Grimm Museum, the Sababurg Tierpark, and the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe."
Alexandra Chafe participated in the CSSG program and is a student at Queen's University.
Caleb Clarke
"This summer I was able to obtain a certificate in German language, allowing me to work professionally in Germany after my studies...I plan to do an internship in the German government in Berlin next summer and thanks to this programme and the financial support of the Stork Award, I am one step closer to that goal. I highly recommend anyone reading this: be assertive and explore what Germany has to offer, there are fantastic resources like the Stork Award to help achieve your goals and help you become a better world citizen! "
Caleb Clarke participated in the DAAD University Summer Courses program and is a student at the University of British Columbia.
Be assertive and explore what Germany has to offer, there are fantastic resources like the Stork Award to help achieve your goals.
It was amazing to see and feel my linguistic improvement in such a short time... I love that the program got me out of my comfort zone.
Julie Cohen
"The immersion into German language and cultures has done wonders for me on a linguistics and personal level. I have fond memories of this life changing experience. It was amazing to see and feel my linguistic improvement in such a short time... I love that the program got me out of my comfort zone. Other elements of linguistics were improved simply by being in a German environment. By reading it on signs and in museums, provided so much exposure."
Julie Cohen participated in the CSSG program and is a student at the University of Victoria.
Mira Engelbrecht
"The trip that had the most impact on me was to Berlin. The CSSG allowed another student and I to travel to the capital a day early and return two days later than the rest of the group, giving us six days to explore the city. As a student of German history, Berlin is an important focus in my studies. It was exactly as interesting as I had hoped it would be. The CSSG offered excursions and tours, such as a day trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp and a guided walking tour of Schönberg, the Queer neighbourhood of Berlin. While we were offered these experiences, we were under no obligation to partake and allowed free time as we so desired."
Mira Engelbrecht participated in the CSSG program and is a student at the University of Victoria.
The CSSG offered excursions and tours, such as a day trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp and a guided walking tour of Schönberg
I was living with an amazing German host family, in whom I became very close with and who I can now call my second family.
Brigitta Holzschuh
"In Germany I was constantly surrounded and immersed in German culture as I was living with an amazing German host family, in whom I became very close with and who I can now call my second family. My host family consisted of two parents and three children, two in which were similar ages to me and one younger child who I constantly played German board games with! I was able to learn a great deal from my family such as German cuisine, German customs, and even German humor."
Brigitta Holzschuh participated in the CSSG program and is currently a student at the University of Ottawa.
Andréane Milord
" We studied the German culture and history while visiting many important sites and monuments in Berlin. I met so many new amazing people that have become my good friends and I really deepened my knowledge on Germany. This award was an amazing gift that not only allowed me to pursue my goal to learn German, but also to discover Berlin and the rest of Germany (yes, I had the chance to visit a few other cities!)."
Andréane Milord participated in the UQAM summer school program and is currently a student at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
I met so many new amazing people that have become my good friends and I really deepened my knowledge on Germany.