MSA Joins Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica

Story by Sarah Gillespie

The Miller School of Albemarle joins the ranks of schools across the nation that participate in the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH), an internationally recognized honors society sponsored by the Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).  Currently, 2,500 chapters of the Society exist worldwide. The Cide Hamete chapter is named after one of Miguel de Cervantes’ most infamous characters (the fictitious Muslim historian and alleged “true author” of Don Quijote) and is the first of its kind at MSA.  We are happy to announce that four exceptional students have been inducted into the chapter this year: Lucas Adam, Rheannon Loth, Krystal Zhu, and Kayleigh Creammer.

As stated in the Society Bylaws, the mission of the SHH is “to recognize high achievement in Spanish and Portuguese by students of secondary schools and to promote continuity of interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies.” As members of the Cide Hamete chapter, students will engage in cultural and service activities as well as connect with local organizations to explore professional and resume building opportunities that highlight their strong linguistic skills. In addition to offering $160,000 in scholarships to members of the SHH, the society also provides study-abroad opportunities and the chance for students to be published in a nationally recognized student journal, Albricias. This is a unique opportunity for students to start accumulating publications and earn recognition for their essays, poems, artworks, and photography before even setting foot on a college campus.

As the director of college placement, Dr. Hugh Meagher, believes that a language education is essential. “It is foolish of students to stop studying a language after say, level three just because they’ve met the graduation requirement.  Even if they plan on studying Business in college, learning a language is extremely important,” he said.

The Cide Hamete chapter is open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are currently enrolled in a Spanish class.  These students must maintain an honors average for 3 consecutive semesters to be accepted into the chapter. In addition, active members are required to participate in service-oriented events such as leading and organizing the Annual Foreign Language Holiday presentation and participating in the Pulsera Project fundraiser which helps artisans in Nicaragua sell handicrafts at fair trade prices in schools across all 50 states.