47 children receive Young People's Icelandic Language Award this year
47 children received the Young People's Icelandic Language Award in Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature at a ceremony at Harpa on Nov. 16 to mark Icelandic Language Day. This marked the 19th time the awards were presented by Reykjavík City's School & Recreation Council in partnership with Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature.
Children from 23 schools receive awards
The Young People's Icelandic Language Award aims to boost Reykjavík primary school students' interest in the Icelandic language and encourage their progress in spoken and written expression. The 47 students who received awards come from 23 primary schools in Reykjavík, and nearly 1,200 students or student groups have been nominated for the awards since the program began.
Avid readers and exemplary speakers among award recipients
In recent years, between 35 and 50 students have received the awards annually. They are invited to the ceremony along with their families, school administrators and teachers, and the School & Recreation Council. The program included recognizing the students and also featured Harpa Þorvaldsdóttir from Syngjandi skóli (Singing School) playing piano at the start of the ceremony, remarks by Director of Education & Youth Steinn Jóhannsson, and the Fossvogsskóli choir, conducted by Björg Þórsdóttir, singing "Sumargestur" (Summer Guest) and "Á íslensku má alltaf finna svar" (You Can Say Anything in Icelandic).
The awards are given to students who have demonstrated skill, creativity and joy in expressing themselves in Icelandic through speech and writing, shown proficiency in using the language as a communication tool for practical or artistic purposes — such as in conversation or poetic expression — or made significant progress in Icelandic.
School & Recreation Council members present the awards
The awards committee includes representatives from the School & Recreation Council, principals and the specialized office for primary schools at Reykjavík City's Department of Education & Youth. Marta Guðjónsdóttir chairs the committee.
School & Recreation Council representatives Árelía Eydís Guðmundsdóttir, Sabine Leskopf and Stefán Pálsson presented awards to students this year. The awards included a certificate signed by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and a collection of Jónas Hallgrímsson's poetry.
Award patron Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Iceland's president from 1980-1996, attended this year's ceremony.
