Smithtown Inducts Students into World Language Honor Society

On consecutive Thursdays, Smithtown High Schools East and West conducted their respective ceremonies to induct students into the World Language Honor Society.

A total of 420 students representing both schools were inducted into at least one of the four honor societies representing the French, German, Italian and Spanish languages. This included a record number of students inducted into the HSW Italian WLHS and approximately 80 students each at HSE and HSW inducted into the Spanish WLHS.

Membership in the WLHS is the highest honor a high school student studying a foreign language can achieve and requires each inductee to maintain high marks in their language of study as well as their cumulative studies. It is, at the same time, an acknowledgment of students who have pursued knowledge of, and shown interest in, a second language and culture.

Vincenza Graham, director of world languages, ESL and library media services, commended the inductees for realizing the importance of learning another language and acknowledged those taking more than one foreign language who were inducted into multiple societies.

“The acquisition of a second language will help with emigration, family, friends, work, travel, study abroad programs, required courses in college, food, culture and, most of all, the personal challenge to keep the mind healthy,” Graham said to the inductees at both high schools. “I commend each of you for the continued challenge to perfect and maintain fluency and interest in your language of study.”

Photos courtesy of Smithtown Central School District