Students were able to participate in a variety of events and activities during the annual Spanish Language Fair on Tuesday, April 5.
Held in the Memorial Health Building, in conjunction with Spanish Honor Society and Sigma Delta Pi, the fair serves as an informational event for high school students, so they can explore the Spanish language and culture.
Laura Schultz, professor of Spanish at APSU, organized the fair for the second year in a row.
“The fair is a fun way for APSU students to volunteer and give back to their local communities,” Schultz said. “Some of our student volunteers actually remember coming to the fair when they were in high school, and it’s neat to see that cycle continued.”
The fair hosted a variety of activities in a competitive setting, including dance, cuisine, music, literature and art.
In particular, this year’s fair had an extra twist.
“This year, we worked with Chartwells to create a Caribbean theme day at the APSU Caf, and students will have the opportunity to dine on campus,” Schultz said.
In terms of the competitive elements of the fair, Schultz said contestants participated in a placement test according to their language level.
The award ceremony occurred at the end of the day.
Madeline Williams, a junior Spanish major at APSU, heard about the fair from one of her professors and was part of the event the previous year.
Williams said the planning committee tries to plan at least four months ahead.
“It’s hard to keep high schoolers interested,” Williams said. “We have to prepare for situations as they come up.”
Williams said the fair is about more than just campus involvement.
“It’s more for the high school students,” Williams said.
If you’re a part of APSU, Williams said, the fair is an “open door” and a way to help the Spanish department.
Schultz, the most rewarding aspect of organizing the fair is “seeing all of our planning come into fruition and seeing how much the students are enjoying their day on campus.”
