Hanna receives awards at French competition
A story that appeared here March 29 about the Lopez High School French program failed to include winners of a French competition that Hanna High School also competed in. The Herald apologizes for the error.
By J. NOEL ESPINOZA
The Brownsville Herald
April 5, 2005 Reading lines for a public performance can spark nervous jitters. But reading them in French is a different story.
Alejandro Bernal is pleased that the skit he and three other Hanna High School students performed in French on Feb. 19 nabbed a second-place award in the Rio Grande Valley French Competition.
Bernal acted the part of the prince of the well-known novel, The Little Prince, written by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
It was a good experience, said Bernal, a 15-year-old sophomore. Its the first time that Ive been in a competition in French.
Hanna French teacher Jean Schmeling said the four students who performed the skit won in the level III category.
Schmeling said 13 students from Hanna participated in the annual competition. They won five awards.
Of the 13 students who went nine placed, Schmeling said.
Lizeth Becerra, a junior who placed second in Level III Poetry, said she was a little nervous, yet confident.
I recited in front of a judge and an assistant, said Becerra, who read Cet Amour, a poem by Jacque Prevert that deals with love and its meaning. I was very nervous, but I had practiced a lot. I like how the words sound.
Sophomore Emily Hodgins portrayed the Rose in The Little Prince skit and was surprised when she heard they won second place.
We didnt have any costumes like other schools, Hodgins said. A pink hat is all I had.
Schmeling said last year Hanna students took six awards.
Its been exciting and fun, she said.
The competition drew several Rio Grande Valley high schools.
Lopez High School also received honors at the competition taking 16 awards.
nespinoza@brownsvilleherald.com
