Area Youth Learn, Compete at Cultural Bowl

By Steve Harmic, Penn State DuBois

DUBOIS – A total of 110 area high school students participated in the annual Spanish Cultural Bowl at Penn State DuBois this year.  Those students came from DuBois, Brookville, and Johnsonburg high schools.

Organized by Associate Professor of Spanish Deborah Gill, students test their proficiency with the Spanish language by competing through various activities, including written and oral exercises.  A talent portion is also held, in which students can perform songs or dance routines.  All signing must also be done in Spanish. 

Gill said the bowl is intended to be a fun way for young people to use and practice their language skills, and to fuel their interest.

“It’s important to try and promote globalization, language, and cultural learning to these students,” said Gill.  “If we get them to develop a love for these things at the high school level, they’ll hopefully maintain that love in the future.” 

“Our students love the opportunity to meet other students of foreign language and test their own knowledge,” said DuBois Area High School Spanish teacher Lisa Benn. 

Awards were given in achievement, proficiency, and talent, on four different levels.  In all, 30 students took home awards. 

In the photo:

Row One, left to right: Kailyn Angelo, DuBois, first place in talent (dance); Kelly Mehok, DuBois, first place in talent (dance); Ben Magro, Brockway, third place in proficiency; Aaron Ray, Brookville, second place in achievement; Logan Stout, Brookville, second place in achievement.

Row Two, left to right: Lauren Nelson, DuBois, second place in achievement; Courtney Kunselman, DuBois, third place in achievement; Nikki DuGan, DuBois, second place in proficiency; Sam Snyder, DuBois, second place in proficiency; Emilie Turner, Brookville, first place talent (singing) and third place talent (dance); Kiah Wymer, Brookville, first place in talent (singing) and third place in talent (dance); Lidia Boghean, Brookville, second place in achievement and first place in proficiency; Emily Dinger, Brookville, third place in talent (dance); Ashley King, Brookville, first place in proficiency and achievement.  

Row Three, left to right: David Smith, Brookville, third place in achievement; Chelsea Folmar, DuBois, third place in talent (dance); Aschleigh Graham, DuBois, third place in talent (dance); Tori Taylor, DuBois, third place in proficiency; Rebekah Tate, DuBois, first place in achievement, second place in proficiency; Annie Amslev, Brookville, third place in achievement; Brett Smith, Brookville, third place in achievement.