The Westfield Area High School Spanish Department would like to recognize and honor a number of their students for their outstanding performance on the 2020 National Spanish Exam. The National Spanish Examination is an online, standardized assessment tool given voluntarily by over 3,400 teachers throughout the United States to measure proficiency and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language.
“An award or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States.”
Two students from Westfield placed in the top ten in the state by percentile. Honors for outstanding performance on the Spanish Level 1 exam were earned by Emma Hamilton and Kyla Thoren. Emma, daughter of Patrick and Tammy Hamilton tied for ninth in the state and outscored 91% of all other students who took the same level exam in the nation. Kyla, daughter of Jeremy and Rebecca Thoren tied for tenth in the state and outscored 90% of all other students who took the same level exam in the nation.
Westfield recognizes these students who accepted the challenge to compete nationally while participating in this difficult exam and especially to those who earned special recognition. Students from Westfield Area High School have a long history of high achievement on these exams and were taught by Spanish teachers Jessica Perez and Julianne West.
