High Tech Scores Big in 2018 National Spanish Exams

(North Bergen, NJ—May 8, 2018) – Thirty-six High Tech students of Spanish, levels I-IV, scored exemplarily well in the 2018 National Spanish Exam (NSE), sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP), announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The NSE assesses students’ proficiency in the Spanish language. They compete on a national level with peers in grades 6-12. These exams, the largest of their kind in the United States, find students vying for a prestigious medal or honorable mention.

“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” claims Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because these exams are the largest of their kind in the United States, with over 150,000 students participating in 2018.”

Kearny resident Alvaro Orihuela and Sherly Tapia of West New York earned the Oro (Gold Medal) for Spanish IV.

These students received the Plata (Silver Medal): Sydney Chaca of Secaucus for Spanish I; Secaucus resident Ariana Perez for Spanish III; and Jacqueline Perez of Union City for Spanish IV.

Bronce (Bronze) Medalists include Kearny resident Carlos Ascensao for Spanish I; Gabriela Conde of North Bergen for Spanish II; Hoboken resident Alice Meyer, Sarah DeCaro and Nicole Colmenares of West New York, and North Bergen resident Keysie Argueta for Spanish III; and Alyssa Mojica of North Bergen for Spanish IV.

Mencíon de Honor (Honorable Mention) candidates include Bayonne residents Aya Abdalla (Spanish I), Apostolos Bourinaris (Spanish I), and Emily Kelly (Spanish I); Olivia Cahn (Spanish I) and Josephine Conlon (Spanish I) of Hoboken; Jersey City residents Olivia Castillo (Spanish II), Lailany Maldonado (Spanish II), and Hillary Ordonez (Spanish III); Hamza Ahmad (Spanish I), Angelie Albino (Spanish I), Christie Arango (Spanish III), Elissandra de la Cruz (Spanish III), Valeria Mesa (Spanish III), Marla Paneque (Spanish III), Lucy Rieder (Spanish I), Tanushri Shah (Spanish IV), and Mellina Perez Vieta (Spanish II) of North Bergen; Secaucus residents Alyssa and Marissa Conde (Spanish III) and Shana Coggins (Spanish I); Kelly Villares (Spanish III) of Union City; West New York residents Zachary Fernandez (Spanish II), Ashley Pazmino (Spanish II), and Aaliyah Rodriguez (Spanish I).