German American Heritage Society
121
S. Meramec Ave., Ste. 1108,
Saint Louis, MO
63105 USA Call: 314-862-1733 (-1788 Fax) E-mail: gahs-stl@sbcglobal.net
Kirkwood, MO -The German School Association of
Greater St. Louis was honored with
the 2007 Carl Schurz Heritage Award on Saturday, September 29 at the
German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis’ (GAHS) annual "A Taste of
Germany" Benefit Dinner & Auction held at Westborough Country Club.
The German School
principal, Carmen Freeman (right), received the award and a financial
grant on behalf of the association from GAHS President, Lansing Hecker.
The
GAHS award was named for the famous 19th century German immigrant who
served as a Civil War general, newspaper publisher, U.S. envoy to Spain
for President Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Senator from Missouri, as well as Secretary of the
Interior under President Rutherford B. Hayes. Each year it recognizes
an individual or organization for their "dedication to the preservation of
the history and heritage of our German forebears".
The German School Association of
Greater St. Louis is
an independent, not-for-profit organization serving the St. Louis area for 45 years. The school is
dedicated to promoting the language and culture of German-speaking countries.
The German School provides classes for adults and
children, from beginners through advanced levels. Classes are held Saturday
mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at Abiding
Savior Lutheran
School in South County.
The academic year runs through the spring with a total of 30 sessions. In 2006
the school applied for, and received, federal tax exemption, allowing for
solicitation of grants and significant funding from corporations and private
donors. The school's enrollment continues to increase
each year and the school continues to improve and evolve to meet the needs of
current and prospective students. To learn more about the German School
Association of Greater St. Louis, visit their website at, www.germanstl.org/germanschool/.
The GAHS is a
self-funding, not-for- profit organization that provides both annual and
periodic grants to selected area German cultural programs and organizations
including: The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) German
Culture Center, Student Study Abroad Programs at UMSL and Webster
University, the Missouri Deutschheim, the St. Louis Strassenfest German Garden
in the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the restoration of German landmarks in the
St. Louis area, the German School Association of Greater St. Louis, and
co-sponsorship of the German Special Interest Group in cooperation with the St.
Louis Genealogical Society.
The GAHS is actively involved in exploring and preserving German heritage
with other German American organizations in the St. Louis
region, the state of Missouri, the United States of America
and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Anna & Walt Beck Margo Brettmann, Courtney
Jones, Gary & Traude Wilson
Brettmann table Adie & Jody Dietz
Lansing Hecker, Roy
Leimberg Pattie Heutel, Don Bippen
Joan & Lansing Hecker Charles Block Lansing Hecker with an auction item
Guenter Lang & Margo Brettmann
Lou Stemmler-auctioneer