A recently introduced Spanish Honors Society will start up later this year in hopes of bringing together students interested in the Spanish language and Hispanic and Latino cultures. It provides opportunities for activities and interaction outside of class, building community among Spanish learners while promoting cultural learning within the school. Justin Pullen, an Honors Spanish III student and future club member, shares his thoughts.
“I think the Spanish Honor Society can show that a student has engaged more deeply with a foreign language than just the surface level,” sophomore Justin Pullen said. “I think it’s important, especially at a school where there’s a lot of emphasis put on taking language classes.”
Students who have grown up speaking Spanish, and newer students learn from each other’s different experiences. Senior Edgar Ludwikowski has taken Spanish for three years and is an active member of the National Honors Society. He expresses his hope that the Spanish Honors Society will be a place to grow in his Spanish-speaking abilities through cultural exchange among students.
“It’ll look like a community where people will help each other study, especially people who are good at Spanish, which isn’t necessarily true for everyone,” Ludwikowski said.
According to Spanish teacher Jennifer Dessert, the society’s purpose is to bond people through Spanish connections. The society will bring more language and cultural enrichment, as based on the established French Honors Society. It allows equal opportunities for recognition and participation among students in both language programs.
“We have had the French Honors Society for a few years,” French teacher and language department chair, Leigh-Ann Haggerty said. “I want Spanish to have the same opportunities French does.”
Senior Caroline Findley has taken Spanish for three years and plans to be involved in the honors society.
“It’s a really great way to showcase all the effort we’ve put in taking Spanish for years,” Findley said. “Especially now that we are taking AP and honors level Spanish, it just shows that we deserve to be recognized for that.”
According to Dessert, plans are in the works to bring the Spanish department’s culture to life, including having guest speakers from the Hispanic community in Kansas City share their culture.
“They can talk about being bilingual or having strong Spanish skills and what opportunities that presents,” Dessert said.
Activities such as cultural food events and fundraisers to offset travel expenses are in the foreseeable future according to Haggerty. There is potential collaboration with other school groups as well, such as the Cultural Diversity Club.
“The language societies work together to provide as much of the palate for our diverse student body on campus during open house events,” Haggerty said.
Community service will also be a major part of the society’s mission. Dessert is considering collaborating with other community groups.
“I thought a good idea might be to work with St. Agnes, where younger students are studying Spanish. Perhaps we could collaborate on a project or help,” Dessert said.
Similar to the French Honors Society, members participate in an initiation ceremony and wear honor cords at graduation. Haggerty expressed that the cords represent hard work and dedication to a foreign language. She is responsible for organizing the graduation cords fo to recognize the students’ language achievements.
“It’s acknowledged on your resume,” Haggerty said. “We’ll do community service activities, just like the National Honors Society, but with a focus on the Spanish language.”
International opportunities are next in the works. Haggerty shares plans for a future trip that would permit students to apply their language abilities globally.
“Being in the Spanish Honors Society is about more than just getting good grades,” said Spanish student Giselle Martinez. “It’s a chance to really improve my Spanish skills and connect with other students while preparing for college. I’m excited to see how it will help me in the future.”
