During a traditional candlelight ceremony in the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School auditorium, 79 Connetquot High School foreign language students were inducted into the World Language Honor Society for their academic excellence in French (three), Italian (15) and Spanish (61).

After co-vice presidents Tiffany Gao and Edward Fiesler welcomed parents and faculty to the ceremony and Kamryn Goncalves led the Pledge of Allegiance, Society historian Vashma Raja and secretary Emma Mirabal lit the candles. The inductees were called to the stage and administered the oath of allegiance in their learned languages by Daniella Cregg (French), Lilia Livolsi (Italian) and Edward Fiesler (Spanish) and then presented their certificates, marking membership into the Society.

Director of World Languages and ENL Cheryl Sosa then introduced guest speaker and alumna Amber Hughes who shared information of her travels and who offered advice that the best way to learn a language is through immersion.

Ms. Sosa also explained in her remarks that learning a foreign language forces a student to take risks, to learn about themselves and others, invites them to enter a world of discovery and to gain empathy and compassion for immigrants learning the English language.

Date Added: 11/18/2022