Twenty-two seniors and five juniors were inducted into World Language Honor Societies on March 5, 2026, in recognition of their achievements in Latin, French, and Spanish.

Students qualifying for induction were required to be juniors taking an honors level-five course or members of the senior class who have satisfied Oak Knoll’s three-year language requirement and are in their fourth year of language studies at the honors four, five, or advanced placement level.

Upper School Spanish Teacher and World Language Department Head Veronika Zavaleta-Tejeda said the lessons students learn extend beyond conjugations and vocabulary.

“These students now see the world in a deeper way. They can step into different perspectives, listen with greater empathy, and understand that words carry history, culture, and meaning beyond a simple translation,” Zavaleta-Tejeda said.

“Today, we recognize students who have shown patience, persistence, and passion in learning another language,” she added. “It is not easy work. It takes courage to make mistakes, to keep going, and to speak in another language.”

Upper School Division Head Laura Hollenbaugh echoed these sentiments, noting that speaking another language and understanding other cultures remain important skills despite technology bridging language barriers.

 “The study of another language is not simply an academic exercise or a box to check for a transcript — it is a deliberate part of your formation,” Hollenbaugh said. “When you study another language, you stretch beyond convenience, beyond security, beyond comfort.

“Language learning is a complex endeavor,” she added. “It requires discipline, curiosity, intelligence, and resilience.”

The following students were inducted during the annual ceremony:

Associatio ad Promovendum Studium Latinum

• Audrey Bendelius ’27
• Abigail Han ’26
• Scarlett Mahoney ’26
• Keira McGowan ’26
• Madeleine McKinney ’26
• Anum Rizvi ’26
• Madeline Sherry ’26
• Tallula Stebbings ’26
• Erin Traynor ’26
• Kaitlin Wincko ’26

La Société Honoraire de Français

• Anna Chamberlin ’26
• Victoria Da Silva ’26
• Madison Martin ’26
• Savannah Ramdass ’26
• Rorygrace Thompson ’27

La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica

• Grace Bienstock ’26
• Carly Caesar ’26
• Saffron Cyriac ’27
• Angeli Garcia ’27
• Madeline Kulikowski ’26
• Lilly McMahon ’26
• Quinn McNany ’26
• Alanna Merritt ’26
• Mackenzie Motroni ’26
• Penelope Muirhead ’26
• Madelyn Parks ’26
• Bevin Perdue ’27

During reflections offered in both English and their chosen language of study, students shared how their study of world languages extended beyond the classroom into extracurricular activities and school publications.

For Bevin Perdue ’27, learning Spanish enhanced her volunteer work with an organization that prepares Spanish-speaking immigrants for their citizenship exams.

“Spanish has opened many doors for us, allowing us to learn about and be part of the Hispanic world. In my experience, Spanish has given me the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others,” Perdue said. “This is important to me because many years ago, my family also immigrated, and now Spanish connects me to this other world, for which I am very grateful.”