The 92-member strong Huntington High School Spanish Honor Society is busy pursuing its mission with its typical flair, enthusiasm and attention to detail.
The organization’s executive board includes Brianna Isaza (president), Erik Flores Reyes (vice president), Liam Lennon (treasurer), Tallulah Pitti (corresponding secretary), Jillian LoTurco (recording secretary) and Sophia Segal (historian).
Huntington teacher Nadine Araoz is the Spanish Honor Society's faculty advisor.
The group’s members have “shown their excellence in the Spanish language and their commitment to raise awareness of Latino culture and history,” said teacher Nadine Araoz. “Members tutor students in Spanish II and III and they’ve translated for Spanish speaking parents at Meet the Teacher night at the elementary schools.”
In a typical year absent the COVID-19 pandemic the organization would hold bake sales and other fundraising events, including a popular indoor soccer tournament to amass monies to cover the costs of awarding a pair of scholarships to graduating seniors.
“As president of the Spanish Honor Society, Mrs. Araoz and all the officers have been working really hard to engage and do activities with our members,” Ms. Isaza said. “Due to the pandemic we are currently in, it’s been difficult finding ways we can do the activities we used to do or something similar, but we have made it work. The last couple of meetings we have done breakout rooms where we did ice breakers.”
The organization’s fundraising and community service activities focus on the local community. “One of our big community service projects is to collect clothing for the Huntington Interfaith Housing Initiative, which helps homeless people in the Huntington community,” Mrs. Araoz said. “Different churches and synagogues host the homeless every night of the winter months; feed them and give them a place to sleep. They give them our clothing donations there. In past years, members have also helped to translate there.”
Spanish Honor Society members write and make announcements about famous Latinos over the high school’s public address system during Hispanic Heritage Month
“Our members really miss our monthly Grupo Social (social group) event,” Mrs. Araoz said. “Spanish Honor Society members and English as new language (ENL) students meet for games and interactive activities. Members practice Spanish with native speakers while ENL students practice English with native speakers. Students form friendships with other students that they don’t always interact with, which is very beneficial for both groups.”
The group is working to develop new fundraising activities, including a day when they encourage supporters to visit a specific restaurant and then receive a percentage of the proceeds.
“The pandemic has obviously changed the way many things are working this year and the Spanish Honor Society is certainly running differently as well,” Ms. LoTurco said. “However, we are still very productive even though our meetings are held virtually. For example, in October we held a virtual poetry reading to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Members chose a poem which they felt best represented this month and recorded themselves reading it for members to listen to. In addition, we are currently collecting new and gently used clothing to donate to those in need. As the year goes on, I am certain that we will have many more successful group projects to help our community.”
Spanish Honor Society Membership Process
The application process recently began and will go through February. An induction ceremony is usually the end of May. Interested students can obtain a link to the application from their Spanish teachers or by sending an e-mail to naraoz@hufsd.edu.
“To be considered for membership an applicant must be dedicated, respectful and appreciative of the Spanish language and culture,” Mrs. Araoz said.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be registered in a Spanish or HLA class next year (unless you’re already in the highest level)
- Be willing to attend all Spanish Honor Society meetings and volunteer for the organization (do not apply if you do not have time for community service)
- Have a minimum overall grade average of 90 percent if you are currently a tenth grader and 88 percent if you are in eleventh grade
- Have a minimum grade average of 92 percent in Spanish or HLA if you are currently a tenth grade applicant and a 90 percent average if you are an eleventh grade applicant
- Submit two teacher recommendations via Google Form.
- Complete the Spanish Honor Society application in Spanish (it cannot be filled out by any other person) by February 12.
- E-mail a copy of your transcript to Mrs. Araoz at naraoz@hufsd.edu.
Note: Alumni of Huntington UFSD’s dual language program who are ninth grade, but are in Spanish honors classes need a minimum overall grade average of 90 percent and a 95 average in Spanish.