Señoras y señores—ladies and gentlemen—after five years of hopeful Spanish students missing the cutoff for the Florida State Spanish Conference, this year’s Congreso team has the numbers and talent to attend the competition. On March 8-10, Spanish teachers Mrs. Traci Lerner and Mr. J.B. Wolcott will join eleven high school students in Orlando to compete against schools from across the state.

Senior Elizabeth Djinis said she has her hopes set high for La Conferencia. “This year we have a really strong team and a lot of students who are really passionate about Spanish. I think if we continue to practice up until La Conferencia, we will come back bearing some awards,” she said.

Attendees have been practicing for the academic competition every Friday in Lerner’s classroom since the beginning of the school year.

Lerner, who has never been able to attend La Conferencia, said it will be a great learning experience for both her and the students. Because Saint Stephen’s has not attended the conference for the past five years, all of this year’s attendees will be participating in the competition for the first time.

There are multiple competitions in which the students will compete, including recitation of a two- to three-minute poem, two-minute impromptu speeches and a performance of song, dance or comedy act. Student performances will be given ratings of Sobresaliente, Superior, Excelente or Bueno.

According to the Florida State Spanish Conference official Web site, the scoring of such awards if multifaceted. It states: “Students will be judged on diction, interpretation, overall effectiveness and in the case of impromptu speeches, the ability to express ideas/ thoughts in acceptable Spanish.”

Djinis, who will compete in all three events, said she most looks forward to the poem recitation. “I love literature, and I love Spanish. So, this combines the best of both worlds,” she said.

Senior Amy Addison said she is most excited for the impromptu speech. “It seems really spontaneous and fun. There is only so much practice you can do beforehand. Then, the time comes, and you really just have to think on the spot,” she said.

Academic competitions aside, other students said the Spanish-cultured atmosphere is what draws them to the state competition.

Junior Jennifer Sundstrom said, “It will be a lot of fun to meet other people from other schools who are as excited as I am about Spanish.”

Senior Evan Amato agreed with Sundstrom, commenting on the unparalleled opportunity to really practice his Spanish.

“It will be interesting to be fully immersed in the Spanish language for a few days.” He said, “It will be a really good mix of native Spanish speakers and American students trying to learn Spanish.”

Lerner said reinstituting Saint Stephen’s attendance at the Florida State Spanish Conference presents a great opportunity to both her and the students. “I know the group that we’re taking is extremely motivated and enthusiastic, so I’m excited to spend three days with the best of the best in the Spanish department,” she said.