September 2020 – Congratulations to the numerous students from Collinsville High School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2020 National Spanish Examinations.
The exam was administered last March. Students took the test on the last day of in-person attendance, before learning became remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students completed the exam while learning remotely.
Students enrolled in Spanish III, IV and V earned a total of 8 silver and 7 bronze medals along with 16 honorable mentions.
“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 140,000 students participating in 2020.”
Students from Collinsville High School have a long history of high achievement on these exams and were taught by Spanish teachers Terrie Barr, Krysten Harres, Cara Kettler, Shelly Romoser and Amy Russell.
“We are so unbelievably proud of these kids,” said World Language Department Chair Cara Kettler. “They took this test amid a global pandemic and still came out on top!”
The National Spanish Examinations are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Spanish III Silver medal winners:
Artemio Avila
Narayeli Cardenas
Erick Flores
Yareli Ortega
Crista Rodriguez
Spanish III Bronze medal winners:
Jayme Greer
Ruvit Herrera-Perez
Gustavo Ortiz
Isabella Perryman
Spanish III Honorable Mentions:
Brittany Bettorf
Abigail Castrejon
Bryan Correa
Emily Flores
Alyssa Gerstenecker
Izabel Hernandez
Gannen Kane
Lasaro Rodriguez
Fatima Torres
Melany Varela
Maria Voss
Spanish IV Silver medal winners:
Hunter Juengel
Lena Juenger
Spanish IV Bronze medal winners:
Rebecca Howard
Destiny Johnson
Spanish IV Honorable Mentions:
Grace Crowe
Yahir Figueroa
Kayla Hancher
Madeline Lautz
Spanish V Silver medal winner:
Islemy Leyva
Spanish V Bronze medal winner:
Abriana Rivas
Spanish V Honorable Mention:
Selina Villegas