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DSSV Mission

The Deutscher Sprach- und Schulverein (DSSV) or German Language and School Society of Wisconsin, Inc. was founded in Milwaukee on June 9, 1956.   The Society’s primary goal is to promote and stimulate interest in and understanding of the German language and culture, by means of an annual German Essay contest."

The DSSV is chartered as a non-political, non-religious, and non-profit educational organization under the laws of the state of Wisconsin.

Annual German Language Test and Essay Contest

The contest is open to students of all public and private high schools in the State of Wisconsin who are currently enrolled in a German language course and is held annually in December and January. 

All  2nd through 4th year high school German students are eligible to participate in AATG German Language Test.  The AATG  (American Association of Teachers of German) awards medals and vacation/study trips to Germany to students who qualify.  In addition, the DSSV awards books and cash prizes to Wisconsin students who demonstrate exceptional German language ability on the AATG German Language Test. 

The DSSV Essay Contest is held annually in conjunction with the AATG German Language Test.  Essay topics are announced at the time of the essay and students are then given 30 minutes to write a brief essay in German.  Essays are evaluated on content and grammar.  For a listing of essay topics that have been assigned in previous years, click this Essay Topics link. 

Third and Fourth year Wisconsin German Students are eligible to compete in the DSSV Essay Contest.  The DSSV grand prize is a 4 week trip to Germany and a cash award.  Additional cash prizes up to $500 are awarded to the runners-up for their essays.  The DSSV presented a trip to Germany, books and over $7,400 in cash awards to 2008 - 2009 winners.

A joint DSSV and Wisconsin AATG Chapter Award Ceremony is held every year on the first Sunday in May in the Marquette University High School auditorium.  On that day the DSSV and AATG trips to Germany are awarded.  The Wisconsin German teacher of the year is recognized with the AATG Duden Award along with a cash award from the DSSV.  AATG Medals and DSSV cash and book awards are presented to all winners.  Students and their teachers are encouraged to attend this event and be recognized for their accomplishments.   

The DSSV has sponsored this annual essay contest for over 54 years.  In the 2008 - 2009 contest, over 751 Wisconsin students took the AATG German Language Test and 380 Essays were submitted by Wisconsin students.  During the last 54 years:

·         31,588 students have participated in these contests.

·         8,059 awards have been presented for outstanding achievement in German.

·         80 four-week DSSV Grand Prize Study Trips to Germany have been awarded in addition to the AATG Study Trip awards

·         Winning students have received over 7,800 books.

·         More than $ 250,000 has been raised to fund trips, scholarships, cash awards and contest expenses.