FROM STAFF REPORTS

Nine Spanish students from Shelby County High and Columbiana Middle attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2019 National Spanish Examinations for Spanish levels 1-3.

Students from SCHS earned a total of one silver and one bronze medal along with three honorable mentions.

Students from CMS received a total of two silver and one bronze medal along with one honorable mention.

“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “Because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 146,000 students participating in 2019.”

Receiving silver medals were Daily Alcaraz Lopez, Jennifer Mondragon Ruiz, Abril Polo Alvarado.

Earning bronze medals were Fred Bonnie and Denisen Justice. Receiving honorable mentions were Alyssa Mondragon, Karolina Herrera, Annika Crabtree and BriAnna Horton.

Several of these students are also eligible to apply for scholarships through NSE.

Students from SCHS have competed for two years and earned high achievement on these exams; they were taught by Spanish teachers Jessica Garcia and Jamie Creekmore.

For CMS Spanish 1 students, 2019 was their first time competing. They were taught by Jessica Garcia.
The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6-12 and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.