Reflecting the strength of the modern language curriculum, students in Spanish I and II Honors earned outstanding results on this year’s National Spanish Exam, a nationally administered assessment that measures students’ knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, listening, and culture.

Under the instruction of Sra. Mandella, 79 students earned recognition. In total, 23 students received honorable mention, 19 earned bronze medals, 20 received silver medals, and 17 earned gold medals.

Among the gold medalists, two students achieved the exceptional distinction of perfect scores:

Sophomore Rahm Sus — Gold Medal, Perfect Score

Freshman James Wever — Gold Medal, Perfect Score

These accomplishments speak to the discipline and curiosity required in language study. Through Spanish, students develop more than technical proficiency; they strengthen their ability to communicate across cultures, deepen their understanding of others, and form connections rooted in language, perspective, and shared human experience.

These accomplishments reflect the strength of the Modern Foreign Languages Department and the dedication of its faculty: Department Head Sra. Myrtha “Wess” Mandella, Jeff Young, Gabriel Castaneda, Rebecca Campos, Andrea Schalker, Herb Spurlock ’14, Hilda Fattah, and Ana Borden. Through their guidance, students engage deeply with the Spanish language, building skills that support excellence across all areas of study.

All students who participated in this year’s National Spanish Exam are to be commended for their commitment to academic excellence.