2024 Melba D. Woodruff Award for Exemplary Elementary World Language Program Committee

Melba D. Woodruff was a classroom teacher for over 40 years and it was in the classroom where she had her most profound impact.  She encouraged her students to do their best, dream their dreams, and work hard to fulfill them.  For many of her students Woodruff was more than their professor, she became their mentor and friend.  In addition, Woodruff was a leader of the profession as an author and officer of many professional organizations. 

In recognition of Woodruff’s dedication to the profession this award was established in 2004 with funds from a series of national conferences on world language acquisition by children donated by Dr. Michael Evans and Dr. Rosemarie Benya to recognize an exemplary K-6 world language program.  

We are currently seeking volunteers to serve on the Awards Committee. Committee members review the dossiers of those nominated and rate them on a provided evaluation rubric. 

Requirements: 

 Volunteers should have a background in early language learning. 

Number of hours committed varies depending on the number of nominations received, generally 2-3 hours. 

Approximately 2-5 volunteer committee members are selected by the ACTFL President and Committee Chair to serve for the awards cycle each year. They are notified in early June; work begins in late June and is completed online. Nomination materials are posted on the Awards Community for committee members to access, along with a rubric. Deadlines will be set by the committee chair and passed along to the committee. 

Volunteers currently serving on another ACTFL Committee (SIG Officers, Board Committee, etc.) are not eligible to apply. Volunteers are limited to service on one committee at a time and must remain an ACTFL member for the duration of their committee term.