When ‘language is more than just words’

The Lenape Regional High School District held its annual World Language Honor Society Induction Ceremony for students late last month.

The honor society recognizes high-achieving district students studying world languages such as French, Italian, Latin and Spanish. While specific induction requirements vary by school, students generally have to maintain excellent grades, demonstrate exceptional character and be enrolled in an advanced level of the language.

To be eligible, interested students must:

• – Be in the third or fourth year of their respective language.
• – Have an A grade in three consecutive semesters of a language, or an A or B in an honors-level course.
• – Be a student in good standing. Students must be on credit status and cannot have two or more suspensions in any school year, or academic suspensions such as plagiarism and cheating on a major exam.

Members often participate in language-related volunteering, tutoring and cultural events to foster community involvement and peer mentoring. The district also partners with Rowan University through a College Accelerated Program (CAP) to offer students taking selected world language courses an opportunity to earn both high-school and college credit. 

Students can find more information on the district’s website. For students from Cherokee High, visit the school’s World Language Honor Society page or check the World Languages Department directory to contact faculty advisors. For Lenape, view teacher contact information and program options on the Lenape World Language Department page. For Shawnee, explore other related language activities on the Shawnee World Languages Club Links directory.

“The induction into the World Language Honor Society is a testament to your hard work,” Dr. Leah Mahr, assistant principal and World Language supervisor at Lenape, told inductees at the ceremony. “Your intellectual curiosity, and willingness to step beyond the familiar boundaries of your native tongue signifies not only your proficiency in communication, but also your openness to diverse cultures, appreciation for global perspectives and commitment to becoming true global citizens.

“As you embark on this new chapter as members of this esteemed society, remember that language is more than just words,” Mahr added. “It is a bridge that connects hearts and minds across continents, a key that unlocks understanding and empathy and a powerful tool for shaping a more interconnected and inclusive world.”

Students inducted at the ceremony are listed by their language course:

Tyler Barbash
Jack Senechal
Sofia Lucignano
Dante Cronin
Matheus Da Silva
Lindsey Doyle
Lucas Spahr
Aaron Smith
Charlotte Yurko Julianna Chester
Katelyn Webb
Elise Pangia
Sebastian Lee
Marley Andreshak
Gabriella Morris
Abigail Southard
Ryan Delany
Alexandria Ferro Louis Carroccetto
Adam Cavallaro
David Donch
Samantha Elk
James Graziano
Madeline Jastrzembeski
Alex Kalaitzis
Jayviella Kopala
Alexandros Marmaras Amanda McCarthy
Alexander Roth
Coco Serenbetz
Antonlorenzo Silvestro
Tamara Sukkarieh
Jack Tobin
Shawn Warrick
Kristin You

Latin

Lofton Ahern
Yasha Asokaraju
Jillian Bak
Kuwar Raj Singh Bakshi
Sophia Bondarenko
David Bourke
Aidan Bronk
Brooks Bryant
Breanna Carpino
Mason Catlett
Alex Chong
Elizabeth Costello
Sierra Cranmer
Layla DeFinis
Alexis DiStefano
AbdulKarim El-Badawi
Collin Favorite
Jonathan Filip
Kate Foley
Grayson Gillispie
Ravi Gohel
Mollie Graham Brett Halfpenny
Finn Hassman
William Henhaffer
Emily Jacobsen
Isaac Joh
Anyia Jones
Yuvraj Kadam
Shubh Kapadia
Mackenzie Karasek
Isabella Kohler
Nikolai Larin
Erin Lee
Brianna Lauer
Andrew Maggio
Jack Marquardt
Zachary Mathew
Dalia Mohammed
Rana Mohamed-Naseer
Mackenzie Montana
Noah Myer
Akhil Nalamalapu Ankush Nair
Shaurya Nagar
Madeline Nasto
Anushka Pal
Devarna Pal
Shaan Patel
Logan Peacock
Noah Pearce
Lauryn Pugh
Grayce Robertson
Sophie Roseman
Leanna Roura
Neil Sethi
Brenna Sheeron
Erin Stibler
Vivaan Talreja
Kaley Uyeda
Anika Valluri
Kedar Vipin Kartha
Corrine Waddell
Brandon Zagari
Jennifer Zemble

Spanish

Bilal Anwar
Malaika Awan
Ethan Baum
Sia Bhanot
Zachary Caldera
Madison Collier
Chase Ceccarelli
Morgan Croly
Shelby Croly
Rachael Davenport
Zaylie Doku Katie Gonzalez
Connor Hepperlen
Angelina Hines
Siena Joejo
Riya Kansagra
Lila Kendorski
Grace Kovach
Joanna Lee
Audrey McCorkle
Jaina McGrogan
Joaquin Pando
Lila Raetsch Nitya Ravula
Atlas Ross
Leah Shin
Alexandra Szymanik
Averi Taylor
Vankata Telkapalli
Jordana Tete
Zachary Thomas
Han Truong
Eva Weltch
Dylan Wilson

“We encourage you to embrace the opportunities that this honor society offers,” Mahr noted, “to connect with fellow language enthusiasts, engage in meaningful cultural exchange and continue your journey of linguistic and personal growth.

“Your dedication to world languages enriches our school community and holds the promise of a brighter, more interconnected future.”