Angels Enter World Language Honor Societies; 5 Officers Earn Moran Awards

Outstanding world language students from the Academy of the Holy Angels have been welcomed into the French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish honor societies. AHA World Language Department Chair Lisa Betti, who organized and led both ceremonies, noted how the study of world languages allows people to connect and explore different perspectives, including how other people view us. She congratulated the inductees, expressing her hope that this is just the beginning of their discovery of languages and cultures.

Angels who have demonstrated a high level of achievement in their studies of Latin and Spanish were recognized on March 28.

Students who entered the Societas Latina Honoris are Raegan Brosseau of West New York; Catherine Chiang of Orangeburg, New York; Olivia Costa of Oradell; Nicole Grimpas of Closter; Alexis Mysliwiec of Cliffside Park; Kate Qureshi and Natalie Yoo of Englewood Cliffs; Lily Gee of Englewood; Julianna Rosen of Dumont; Ellie Sawyer of Weehawken; Rylie Smith of Saddle River; and Graicen Van Blarcom Deluise of Glen Rock. SLH Moderator Frank Hunter, President Giselle Acosta of Fort Lee, Vice President Giovanna Corbisiero of Franklin Lakes, and Finance Officer Sydney Ponti of Secaucus congratulated the honorees.

The 14 students who took the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica oath include Angelina Kim of Tenafly; Caroline Kartman of Edgewater; Catherine Raimondi of River Edge; Emily Figueroa of River Vale; Evelyn Coleman of New City, New York; Gabriella Ragucci of Harrington Park; Marina Poire of Dumont; Sienna Pacione of Old Tappan; Sophia Lee of Allendale; Taylor Glynn of Hoboken; Theresa Wilson of Norwood; Tristan Fowler of Upper Nyack, New York; Victoria Velasco of Woodcliff Lake; and Xenaya Medina of Clifton. Moderator Andréa Palacio greeted the inductees with assistance from President Valerie Rey of River Vale; Vice President Grace Costanza of Clifton; Secretary Elena Fiorentinos of Cresskill; and Treasurer Nicole Yakubov of Teaneck.

Inductions for the French and Italian honor societies were held on March 30.

Dr. Samira Mady, moderator of the Société Honoraire de Français, welcomed the group’s newest members, including Caitlin Carey of Westwood; Francesca Casagrande of Alpine; Annika Castillo and Genevieve Tuohy of Cresskill; Evangeline Cho of Harrington Park; Sophia Karamanoukian of Englewood Cliffs; Caroline Ko of Hoboken; Katarina Kondratowicz of Carlstadt; Katherine McLoughlin of Rutherford; Isabelle Meyer of Mahwah; Emily Neumann of Ridgewood; Stephanie Park of Norwood; Mara Sainclivier of Woodcliff Lake; and Isabella Zahirudin of Stony Point, New York. Dr. Mady introduced and thanked the society’s officers, including Co-presidents Jordyn Wynn of Fort Lee and Annika Watson of Montvale; Vice President Caroline Dupas of Pearl River, New York; and Secretary Areni Chaglasian of Upper Saddle River. All of these honorees study French with Leila Ben Kilani.

Twenty Angels entered Società Onoraria Italica, including Kathleen Bing and Anna Casale of Hasbrouck Heights; Alessandra Boncaldo of Stony Point, New York; Cara Boyce of Old Tappan; Julia Covino of Sparkill, New York; Giulia Daly of Ridgewood; Margaret Doherty of New City, New York; Gianna Enriquez and Sienna Morreale of Edgewater; Alexandra Fontana and Gabrielle Fontana of Nanuet, New York; Liliana Garber of Mahwah; Gianna Gross and Sofia Petriello of Ridgefield; Eva Jurcevic of Hillsdale; Gabriella Loconsole and Eva Zazzali of Saddle River; Scarlett Mazzola of Fort Lee; and Lilly Tsurushima and Gemma Siciliano of Cresskill. Mrs. Laura Kraytem moderates this group, which is led by Co-presidents Jacqueline LaMastra of Tenafly and Federica Zazzali of Saddle River.

Five honor society officers won the 2023 Jennifer Moran World Languages Excellence & Leadership Award. This award, which is named for former AHA Principal Jennifer Moran, was presented to Société Honoraire de Français Co-presidents Jordyn Wynn and Annika Watson, Società Onoraria Italica Co-president Federica Zazzali, Societas Latina Honoris President Giselle Acosta, and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica Vice President Grace Costanza. Each winner received a certificate and a check for $100 in recognition of her love for the language she studies, and the achievement and outstanding commitment she demonstrates.

AHA Upper School Principal Jean Miller extended her congratulations to the honorees of each society, speaking Latin, Spanish, French, and Italian to do so. She pointed out the importance of making the effort to communicate in another language, and not worrying about speaking perfectly, to connect with others.

“This is a well-deserved reward,” Mrs. Miller to the honorees, acknowledging the challenges of learning a new language.

“Congratulations to Mrs. Betti and all the world language teachers, who share their time, advice, perspective, and insight.”

Miller observed that the students clearly benefit from working with their teachers and from the love and support of their families, who witnessed the ceremonies via livestream.