The Marlboro High School (MHS) chapter of the Spanish Honor Society celebrated the induction of 22 new members during a ceremony on March 24.
The ceremony, which was the first in-person academic achievement event to take place at the school since pre-COVID times, was attended by friends and family members, and broadcast live on the Marlboro Central School District’s YouTube channel.
The event’s guest speaker was Ashley Toombs, a 2003 graduate of MHS who is currently working as the Director of External Affairs at BRAC USA, an international nonprofit organization that designs solutions that equip people to lift themselves out of poverty and achieve their potential. She previously held positions at The Nature Conservancy and the Peace Corps.
Toombs has traveled extensively for work, spending time in Latin America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. While she wasn’t able to attend the ceremony in person, she sent a video explaining how understanding the Spanish language has opened doors for her, both personally and professionally.
“I studied Spanish from seventh grade until graduation, and although I really loved it, I had no idea at that time what an impact and influence it was going to have on my life,” she said. “When I was leaving Marlboro, I could never have known that I was going to continue studying Spanish and that skill was going to send me to Peru, where my worldview would continue to expand, influencing the person and professional that I am today.”
Toombs shared that the main benefit of knowing more than one language is connection. “The ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and create shared experiences as well as understand their perspective, which might be very different from your own, is important,” she said. “Being able to communicate in another language fosters our ability to appreciate people from other backgrounds. You get a greater understanding of other people which, in turn, promotes tolerance, empathy, and acceptance.”
Toombs implored each Marlboro student to use their talents and privilege—and their Spanish language skills—to forge their own path. “One that will hopefully provide you with happiness,” she said.
Next up during the ceremony, Spanish Honor Society members took turns reading biographies of the new inductees and presenting them for induction. The students then lit candles and recited an oath promising to devote themselves to the study of the Spanish language.
The event was bittersweet for Spanish Honor Society advisor Mary Ann Russo, who is retiring after many years teaching Spanish at MHS.
Society President Gianna Barbero expressed her gratitude to Russo for her hard work and dedication. “I have known Mrs. Russo to be one of the kindest and most impactful teachers at Marlboro,” she said. “She demonstrates patience and fortitude, and fosters a love for learning the Spanish language. Mrs. Russo, I know I speak for many when I say you will be greatly missed. May your next chapter be filled with relaxation and joy.”
Russo was clearly touched by the well wishes, but was quick to turn the attention and praise to her students.
“You are some of the most capable, positive, committed, and talented students we have here at Marlboro High School. In addition, you are also empathetic, inquisitive, and involved young people, and I believe that you are already making the world a better place. I feel fortunate that I’m able to work with you, and I’m so pleased that we’re able to be here this evening.”
The Spanish Honor Society is an academic organization sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese which focuses on excellence in the study of the Spanish language and promotes a continuity of interest in Spanish studies. In order to qualify for induction, Marlboro students must have earned an average of 90 or above in Spanish 3 and maintained at least a B average in College Spanish 201 and College Spanish 202 in their junior and senior years.
2022 Inductees: Riley Adams, Sophia Benanti, Hannah Buttner, Eva Carbone, John Cavanaugh, Celeste Charlemagne, Devin Dirago, Noah Gecht, Sarah Lynn Gilles, Alivia Herrera, Samantha Jaros, Elizabeth Leduc, Caitlin Liu, Claire McNamara, Keily Medina, Alivia Menser, Colin Robertson, Jack Schlagler, Malak Serdah, Reese Shuta, Jasmine Taylor, and Gabriella Williams.