Eisenhower High School’s Spanish Club Brings Home Awards From Pan American Student Forum

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Eisenhower High School Spanish Club students showed their linguistic skills. The students and their sponsors attended the 2015 Pan American Student Forum. The campus was among the 57 schools from across the state that competed April 17-19 in San Antonio.

On the first night of the forum, students enjoyed celebrating Noche Panamericana. Eisenhower High School’s group took part. Each year, the PASF Board of Directors selects a theme and a country from the Americas and Spain to study. Teachers encourage students to explore the theme throughout the school year. The theme of this year’s forum is “Chile: Tierra del Fuego — Un país lleno de contrastes.” For non-Spanish speakers, this translates to “Chile: Land of Fire — A Country Full of Contrasts.”

In keeping with the theme, the Ike students presented their humorous skit “Sábado Gigantesco.” They based it on the long-running variety show known as “Sábado Gigante.” The show first aired in Chile in 1962. Mario Kreutzberger popularly known as “Don Francisco” has hosted the show for more than 50 years. The show now airs throughout Latin America and the U.S. on Univisión.

Sábado Gigantesco Skit Group

Narrator — Stephanie Murillo
Don Francisco — Leónidas Villatoro
Don Francisco’s Assistant — Jailene Martínez
First Singer — Bryttany McClendon-Weary
Second Singer — Diana Pérez
Third Singer — Alexandra Guerrero
El Chacal — Cristian Ayala
Dancer — Gustavo Almanza
Audience Members — Julianne Valdez, Kimberly Lerma, Jennifer Irlas, Jessica Blanco, Gabriela Rodarte, Mariana Mendoza, Michell Flores, Susan Carranza, María Parra, Myriam Palacios, Morelia García & Leonardo Fernández
Sound — Jorge A. Flores
Script — Jesús Ochoa

The Spanish contests at the forum are an important part of the PASF program. The contests encourage students to get a better understanding of the Spanish language. They also gain an appreciation of the Hispanic culture. The 21 Ike students were among the more than 1,600 that competed during two days of the forum. Contests included reading comprehension, grammar, listening comprehension, vocabulary, and civilization. Eisenhower High School students all competed in the Native Speakers Category. They did an outstanding job. The students brought home 11 awards.

Results

1st Place — Myriam Palacios in Listening, Advanced Level
1st Place — Mariana Mendoza in Listening, Level 3
2nd Place — Mariana Mendoza in Grammar, Level 3
3rd Place — Julianne Valdez in Grammar, Advanced Level
3rd Place — Leónidas Villatoro in Civilization, Advanced Level
3rd Place — Susan Carranza in Grammar, Level 2
3rd Place — Susan Carranza in Vocabulary, Level 2
4th Place — Julianne Valdez in Listening, Advanced Level
4th Place — Julianne Valdez in Vocabulary, Advanced Level
4th Place — Jennifer Irlas in Grammar, Level 3
4th Place — Susan Carranza in Listening, Level 2

Jesús Ochoa and Ann Crick are the Spanish Club sponsors at the campus. Carmen Burch also attended the event as a chaperon.

Congratulations!

Eisenhower HS made U.S. News & World Report‘s Best High Schools in the U.S. [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2014 rankings. The campus is an [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]IB World School. Students have the opportunity to take part in its rigorous academic program and to earn an [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]IB diploma.