What a Year for the Spanish Honor Society!
A successful year filled with worthwhile activities is nearing a close for Huntington High School’s Galapagos chapter of the National Spanish Honor Society.
The society strives to help the community through various fundraisers and events, while connecting English and Spanish-speaking students. They are well-known as a group of dedicated individuals who care about the good of the school, as well as the community.
A sampling of activities includes holding bake sales to raise funds for the club, tutoring and baby-sitting young children in the dual language program, translating for the Huntington Hispanic Task Force (high school teacher Eliana Oranges is a member of the organization) and staying after school to help ESL students with their English-speaking skills and special needs students with their social skills.
“When Spanish Honor Society members get to interact with these students the results are remarkable,” said student Christine Corcoran, the society’s historian. “The students help each other grow as learners and as individuals by connecting with one another through simple games and exercises. All this is done with smiles and laughter, uniting peers that do not normally interact because of a small language or social skills barrier.”
During the holiday season the society conducted a clothes drive for the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative. The bake sales that took place throughout the school year helped raise money for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association and for three local families who lost their homes to devastating fires.
“Though I participate in other clubs and honor societies, the Spanish Honor Society is definitely one of the most involved in helping out our local community and our Spanish-speaking friends here at the high school,” said senior Kristen Reardon, who is headed to Cornell University in the fall.
How does the society accomplish so much? It begins with senior Dylan Payne, the group’s dynamic president, who has been involved in every aspect of the club and positively encourages all other members to participate actively. Mr. Payne will begin studying at Dartmouth College in the fall.
The group also succeeds due to the hands-on leadership of teacher Mercedes Peña, a role model in the classroom and as a contributor to numerous services for the community and school. “She has played a large role in getting students involved in service and knows that next year will only bring a brighter future for the Spanish Honor Society,” Ms. Corcoran said.
“I want to thank all of the members of the Spanish Honor Society,” Ms. Pena said. “These young men and women are the best of the best. Without their involvement, our organization would not be the same. I would also like to give special recognition to those members who have volunteered way beyond the Society’s expectation.”
Ms. Pena specifically cited Mr. Payne for “three years of amazing contributions to the Spanish Honor Society,” Vice President Dillon Blatt, Treasurer Frances Saravia, Corresponding Secretary Sara Lustberg, Recording Secretary Stephanie Chang and members Tiffany Sorensen, Anne Alvarado, Erin Brown and Johanna Clifford.
A group of new members was inducted into the society on June 9. They include Michelle Byrne, Andres Carrion, Luis Fernando Cordero, Carolyn Fante, Chelsea Hines, Michael O’Conner, Casey Singer, David Stillman, Michael Valente, Fatima Villatoro and Olivia Weller.
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