On Aug. 30, eight Hays High students and their parents and siblings met Spanish instructor Lora Gallegos-Haynes and principal Shawn Henderson in the library for the induction to the Las Villas Chapter of the Foreign Language Honors Society (FLHS). Ten students are a part of the FLHS this year.

According to the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, “The mission of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is to recognize high school achievement in Spanish and Portuguese and to promote interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies.”

To be inducted into the FLHS, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all subjects throughout their high school career and be in either Spanish III or Spanish IV.

Gallegos-Haynes said that the skills the FLHS can provide include “cultural awareness, language practice and community service.”

During the induction, a ceremony was completed, officer positions were announced and cake and punch were provided.

The ceremony consisted of a poem read in English and Spanish, the lighting of ceremonial candles, an oath pledged by each inductee present and the handing out of certificates and medallions.

Seniors present included Liliana Guzman, Liahna Hyatt, Emry Lundy, Hayli Meier and Morgan Shorb and juniors present included Rylie Fairbank, MacKenzie Hagerman and Sarah Zimmerman. Two other juniors will also be a part of the FLHS this year: Riley Kershner and Meg Taggart.

Officers for the 2021-2022 school year will be Shorb as president, Meier as vice president, Kershner as secretary, Fairbank as treasurer and Lundy as Activities Committee Leader.

“I am proud to be a member and more so to be the treasurer,” Fairbank said. “I am looking forward to everything we do this year, from meetings to service projects.”

22elundy@usd489.com