As each name is called out, candles are lit one by one signifying the entry of a new member of the Mario Vargas Lloso Chapter of the National Spanish Honor Society.
“The Spanish Honor Society began in the school by Kathy Michaels, a former IB language teacher. Students have to be recommended by a teacher, have an overall GPA of a 3.0, a 3.5 GPA in Spanish, no history of referrals, and must continue on in the language the following year,” club sponsor Leni Fernandez said.
On April 5, the club had its induction ceremony welcoming the new additions.
“The induction ceremony was interesting,” junior Gillian Shaw said. “It surprised me that there were only eight traditional kids in the induction.”
The ceremony consisted of the board members and the inductees.
“First, all the board members introduced each other. Then the students who were present lined up one by one and lit their candle by the mother candle. Of course, the Fire Department doesn’t let us use real candles for safety precautions; so we use battery operated ones instead which kind of takes away from the experience. After all the candles were lit, they signed a book, and said a pledge,” Fernandez said.
The club has meetings the first Thursday of every month and includes activities, offers tutoring, and community, national, and worldwide volunteer work.