BPHS German students awarded and recognized

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

February 13, 2025

The BPHS German program celebrates remarkable achievements, with its students earning significant recognition on the 2025 American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) National German Exam.

The National German Exam, administered annually by AATG, assesses student’s comprehension of the German language and culture.

The outstanding performance of BPHS students highlights the strength and dedication of the school’s German program and the hard work of its students.

On the Level 4 exam, several students distinguished themselves with exceptional scores:

Brady McKiernan (senior) and Ben Campbell (junior) both earned Gold Awards, scoring in the impressive 96th percentile nationally.
River Hendrych-Bondra (senior) and Rickart Zuehlke (sophomore) also received Gold Awards, recognized outside the standard testing group due to their extended study abroad experience in Germany.
James Lowen (senior) achieved a Silver Award, placing in the 82nd percentile.
Sydney Felicetti (senior), Christian Tabler (junior), Sam Hoppe (junior), and Colin Finnegan (junior) were awarded Bronze Awards, achieving percentiles of 77th, 77th, 76th, and 70th, respectively.
Frederick Mach (senior), Alexandra Thunborg (senior), Michael Taylor (senior), and Holly McGough (junior) received honorable mentions for their strong performance.

The Level 3 exam also saw impressive results from Bethel Park students:

Adele Stamenov (sophomore) earned a Gold Award, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally.
Gillian Uhl (sophomore) received a Silver Award, achieving the 85th percentile.
Connor Blocklin (sophomore) and Zoey Roberts (sophomore) were awarded Bronze Awards, with percentiles of 77th and 73rd, respectively.
Thaddeaus Smith (senior), Sydney Miller (sophomore), and Reed Zeis (sophomore) were recognized with Honorable Mention.

The exceptional performance of Brady McKiernan, Ben Campbell, and Adele Stamenov has earned them eligibility to compete for a prestigious travel/study scholarship to Germany through the AATG.

This scholarship would provide them with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the German language and culture, further enhancing their linguistic skills and cultural understanding.

The success of BPHS’s German students on the National German Exam is a testament to the quality of the school’s German program. Especially with over 71% of the students taking the exam earned some level of commendation.

The German program at BPHS offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster proficiency in all aspects of the German language, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Students also gain a deep appreciation for German culture through the study of literature, history, and current events.

Additionally, the German program actively encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities, such as the German Club, which provides opportunities for cultural participation and language practice outside of the classroom.

These activities complement the curriculum and contribute to a well-rounded German language education.

The dedication of both the students and the teachers has resulted in these impressive achievements, highlighting the program’s commitment to excellence in German language education.

About the Contributor

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

And that’s another Bethel Park Black Hawks win for the boys soccer team. Whether Patrick is on the soccer field or behind the keyboard, he’s always aiming to make an impact—one play and one story at a time. This year, Patrick Romito, an 11th grader, joins Scholastic Publications for the first time. When asked why he decided to sign up, Patrick said, “I took the class to get more involved in school activities.” With a clear passion for making the most of his high school experience, Patrick is eager to contribute to the class by writing articles for the Hawk Eye newspaper. He’s ready to take on whatever stories come his way, whether spotlight features, sports, or school news. Patrick is not just a writer; he’s also an accomplished athlete. With 12 years of soccer experience under his belt and as a three-year DECA member, he balances both extracurriculars and academics with ease. As someone who enjoys variety, he’s equally open to different kinds of stories, saying, “I enjoy writing in general, so whether it’s spotlights, sports, or school news-related content, it doesn’t matter to me.” Looking ahead, Patrick’s plans after high school include studying marketing and advertising, although he’s still deciding on a specific college. In the meantime, his favorite class is Law & You with Mr. Vic. He appreciates how the course prepares him for life after high school, and he enjoys Mr. Vic’s real-life stories that make each lesson engaging. Reflecting on his time in high school, Patrick recalls the excitement of attending football games as a freshman, where he formed friendships that have lasted throughout his high school years. “I really enjoyed going to the football games freshman year because I ended up making a lot of friends there, a lot of which I’m still friends with today,” he said. Outside of school, Patrick has worked as a lifeguard at Highpoint Fitness for almost two years, a job that highlights his dedication and work ethic. When he’s not working or playing soccer, he enjoys comedy movies, with Step Brothers being his top pick. And what’s his dream vacation? Patrick hopes to one day visit Italy. “My dream vacation is Italy because first, it is very beautiful there, as well as my family roots going back to there,” he shared. In just three words, Patrick describes himself as calm, caring, and hardworking — qualities that are sure to serve him well both in and out of the classroom. Keep an eye out for Patrick’s contributions to Hawk Eye this year as he dives into the world of scholastic publications! Written by: Grace Ferency, Staff Writer