The Foreign Service Journal, November 2013

58 NOVEMBER 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS Proficiency in foreign languages is one of the most valuable and important skills in today’s Foreign Service. AFSA’s Sin- claire Language Awards program honors language students for outstanding accomplishments in the study of a “hard” language and its associated culture.  The Matilda W. Sinclaire Language Award program was established in 1982 by a bequest to AFSA from Ms. Sinclaire, a former Foreign Service officer, to “promote and reward supe- rior achievement by career officers of the U.S. Foreign Service while studying one of the ‘hard’ languages under the auspices of the Foreign Service Institute of the Department of State.” Any career or career-conditional member of the Foreign Service from the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Foreign Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service and the International Broad- casting Bureau is eligible. Candidates for the award may be nominated by FSI’s Sinclaire Awards Deadline language-training supervisors, by the language instructors at the field schools, or by post language officers. A committee comprised of the dean of the FSI School of Language Stud- ies (or designee) and members of AFSA’s Governing Board, Awards Committee and from AFSA’s general membership, selects the winners. Winners receive $1,000 and a certificate of recognition signed by the AFSA president and the chair of the AFSA Awards Committee.  Although most nominations are submitted by FSI, AFSA encourages nominations from posts. While post language offi- cers may not be able to provide all of the information called for in the form, FSI test results are required. For candidates nominated by posts, the nominating statement is critical. Nominations for 2013 continue to be accepted through Dec. 24. For additional information, nomination guidelines and the nomination form, please go to www.afsa.org/sinclaire. Winners will be announced in February. For questions on the Sinclaire Awards, please contact AFSA’s Coordinator for Special Awards and Outreach Perri Green at green@afsa.org or (202) 719-9700. n