PLAINVIEW - Wayland Baptist University held its third annual Languages and Culture festival on Tuesday, hosting approximately 100 area high school students for a day of academic competition.
Sponsored by the Wayland's School of Languages and Literature, the event included competitions in poetry, reading, speaking, written essays and more, with all events centered around culture and language. Olton High School took home the most individual awards and was named the first place school at the competition.
Dr. Jesus Romero, associate professor of Spanish, said the ultimate goal of the festival is to engage students and encourage them to pursue the study of cultures.
"We are hoping to foster interest in foreign languages and English," Romero said. "We want to get them interested in studying languages and culture."
The event also included an art show that was set up in the Pete and Nelda Laney Student Activities Center, as well as a talent show where students entertained each other while awaiting the awards presentation.
Competition results (winners listed in order First Place to Third Place):
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Jason Reyes, Plainview; Kimberly Cervantes, Plainview; Karla Reyes-Amaya, Spur
- Poesia Nivel Principiante: Vicente Pedroza, Olton
- Poesia Nivel Intermedio: Jhanet Valeria, Olton; Mirian Flores, Plainview; Karla Arriola, Olton
- Poesia Nivel Avanzado: Kevin Renderos, Spur; Karla Reyes Amaya, Spur; Kimberly Cervantes, Plainview
- Original Works: Jason Reyes, Plainview; Esmeralda Polanco, Olton; Abigail Garcia, Olton
- Recitation: Jeb Stambaugh, Cotton Center; Zeke Saenz, Cotton Center; Austin Hinkeldy, Cotton Center
- Academic Essays: Lisette Guerro, Olton; Antonio Figueroa, Olton; Abygael Gomez, Olton
- Pinatas: Buillermo Gallegos and Lorena Melendaz, Olton; Maria Kennedy and Davida Sinaloa, Olton; Darcie Burnett and Brandy Alvarado, Cotton Center
- Informative Works: Dylan Cervera, Plainview; Dyland Martinez and Aaliyah Flores, Cotton Center; Gavin Arnold, Spur
- Photography: Suzy Hernandez, Plainview; Kylie Nale, Cotton Center; Zeke Saenz, Cotton Center
- Literary Dioramas: Sam Knight, Cotton Center; Ryan Walden, Cotton Center; Annie Metzler, Cotton Center
- 2-Dimensional Art: Jimmy Guerro, Olton; Damaris San Juan, Olton; Megan Shadden, Cotton Center
- 3-Dimensional Art: Jordan Zarate, Spur; Merinda Williams and Dezoray Walker, Spur; Juan Carlos Villareal, Spur
- Talent Show: Cassidy Delgado and Suzy Hernandez, Folk Dance, Plainview; Tye Cervantez, Singing, Cotton Center; Jaime Sanchez, Singing, Olton
- Best in Show: Megan Shadden, Cotton Center
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