The Gunston School is pleased to announce, and congratulate several Spanish students who attained national recognition for their excellent performance on the 2021 National Spanish Examinations. Students earned a total of 4 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals along with 9 honorable mentions.

 “Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 55,000 students participating in 2021.

Students from Gunston have a long history of high achievement on these exams and were taught by Spanish teachers, Avis Wheatley, and Juan Angarita.  

The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12,
and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

National Spanish Award recipients 2021

Honorable mention
Level 1: Allie Fitzgerald ’24, Caitlin Myers ’24, Ava Runz ’24  
Level 2: Georgia Gillespie ’22, Alexandrea Norman ’22
Level 3: Henry Shifrin ’21, Danielle Simmons ’22
Level 5: Avy Aubin ’21, Campbell Parkhurst ’21 

Bronce
Level 2: Julia McClary ’23
Level 3: Andrew Baughman ’22 
Level 5: Sofia Angarita ’22

Silver 
Level 2: Lane Parkhurst ’23, Julia Reed ’23, Damian Rene ’23 
Level 3: Abigail Miller ’22
Level 5: Lydia Periconi ’21

Gold
Level 2: Nicholas Abell ’23 and Zacharia Mozher ’23
Level 3: Magdalena Miller ’22
Level 4: Ashley Escobar ’22