CLASP Excellence in Language Education Award

The CLASP Excellence in Language Education Award recognizes excellence in Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) spoken in Latin America and the Caribbean, including language instruction, pedagogical success, curriculum development, and efforts to promote, preserve, and revitalize LCTLs in the U.S. and abroad.  The focus of the award alternates between Portuguese language and Indigenous and Creole languages. 

We are now accepting nominations for the fourth annual Excellence in Language Education Award. This year’s prize will specifically recognize outstanding achievements in Indigenous and Haitian Creole-language instruction. The committee welcomes nominations of professors and instructors of Indigenous languages or Haitian Creole at all ranks and levels

Nomination Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026

Please consult the Call for Nominations below for more information. You may direct any questions to Hannah Palmer, Chair of the Language Committee. 

2026 CLASP Excellence in Language Education Call for Nominations

2025 Award Recipient: Cecília Paiva Ximenes Rodrigues

Associate Professor of Portuguese and Curriculum Coordinator of the Portuguese Flagship Program
University of Georgia

2025 Honorable Mention Recipients

Eugênia Fernandes

Assistant Professor of Portuguese and Brazilian/Lusophone Studies
Florida International University

Lyris Wiedemann

Senior Lecturer in the Language Center
Stanford University

2024 Award Recipient: Manuela Petronila Tahay Tzaj

K’iche’ Language Instructor, University of Texas at Austin
Program Coordinator, Mayan Language Institute, Tulane University and Vanderbilt University

2024 Honorable Mention Recipient: Susana L. M. Antunes

Portuguese Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Portuguese
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

2023 Award Recipient: Armando Muyolema

Kichwa language instruction
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, University of New Mexico and Arizona State University

2023 Honorable Mention Recipient: Manuela Petronila Tahay Tzaj

Maya K’iche’ language instruction
Tulane University, Vanderbilt University, Duke University and University of Virginia