New members of the Spanish National Honor Society, or Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, were inducted Monday, May 24. The ceremony was live-streamed, according to information released by the School District of Fort Atkinson.
According to the release: founded in 1953, the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, has a rich history of promoting continued interest in Hispanic and Portuguese studies across the world. While fostering this multicultural education, the society also recognizes the high achievement of high school students in Spanish and Portuguese languages.
To become a member, students must have maintained an honor average in the study of Spanish or Portuguese for at least three semesters.
The Fort Atkinson High School (FAHS) chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica was reestablished by World Language Educator Lori Warren in 2019. Each chapter has a unique name associated with some aspect of Spanish or Portuguese heritage. The FAHS chapter is named after American labor leader and Latino American civil rights activist Cesar Estrada Chavez.
When asked why Cesar Chavez was chosen as the namesake of the FAHS chapter, members responded by saying: “We chose Cesar Chavez as our chapter leader because he is honored in the Spanish-speaking communities. For example, in Milwaukee, there is a road called Cesar Chavez Drive that is the home to many cultural retail stores, supermarkets, and restaurants. His impact traveled all across the world, and that is why we believed that he would be a great head figure. We want to make our impact across the school.”
Last year’s ceremony was virtually presented as well, the release stated.
Chapter sponsor Lori Warren reached out to the administration for resources and was directed to John Collins, the performing arts center managing director at Fort Atkinson High School.
According to Warren, Collins, a former student, has established himself as a “theater genius, and he was eager to lead the production.”
Warren submitted a Google Slidedeck that Collins transformed into a pre-recorded ceremony with voiceovers and photos. Impressed by the quality production, Warren submitted the virtual ceremony for acknowledgment by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). As a result, Collins’ talent, his production earned a spot on the National website for the AATSP (viewable here: https://www.aatspshh.org/virtualshh), Warren said in the release.
Co-Presidents Jasmine Fernandez and Valentina Santamaria Munante, along with Secretary Lizbeth Gallegos, shared their experiences with the Spanish National Honor Society.
“I really like that I get to meet other people outside of my normal group,” Gallegos said.
“During meetings, we are talking about volunteering along with ways to give back to the community,” he added.
All three society officers noted their appreciation for Warren, describing her as a “great advisor,” and “very organized.”
The typical induction ceremony for the National Honor Society involves ceremonial candles, a keynote speech, and involvement from inductees. This year, the ceremony is being transitioned into a virtual format. The society hopes to have an in-person ceremony in the coming years.
A video of the event is shown below.
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