In a ceremony marked by the traditional lighting of candles, the Harlan County High School chapter of the Spanish Honor Society inducted 51 new members.

“The inductees tonight are recognized for their academic achievements,” said Emmanuel Anama Green, one of the sponsors of the HCHS Spanish Honors Society.

To be considered for membership, students must have a grade point average of a 3.0 or above in all Spanish classes. They also must have completed or be currently in rolled in Spanish II in order to be eligible for induction. This is an elite group of students who can speak Spanish proficiently.

The Spanish Honor Society is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and was created in 1953. Sponsors of the Spanish Honor Society at Harlan County High School are Laranda Taylor, Emmanuel Anama-Green and Chris Anama-Green.

During the ceremony, president Emma Pinkley, vice president Will Scott and secretary Rhileigh Alred led the induction.

The new inductees received a candle, certificate and flower. The candle represents striving to learn more Spanish. The invocation was led by Christopher Brown, followed by benediction led by Paul Browning IV.

Dinner was catered by El Charrito. The national office of Spanish Honor society contributes more than $160,000 in competitive awards to student members of the Spanish Honor Society. The most prestigious of the awards are college scholarships given to 60 high schools seniors who are members of the organization.

Inductees from the class of 2018, 2019 and 2020 members include: Jade Adams, Amber Allen, Ally Alred, Madison Bailey, Jaiden Belcher , Morgan Blakley, Christopher Brown, Paul Browning IV, Christopher J. Carruba, Amanda Caudill, Rachel Caudill, Destiny Clark, Brandy Collett, Cheyenne Coogle, Sean Cooper, Abbygail Daniels, Angel Davenport, Janice Dean, Hannah Edwards, Whitney Eldridge, Dixie Ewing, Tristan Franklin, Katie Graham, Peyton Griffin, Cody Hall, Madison Hall, Emma Hensley, Katelyn Hensley, Garry Henson, Meghan Howard, Hannah Johnson, Hannah Jones, Taylor Kelp, Jared Lewis, Emily Long , Kaylee Major, Oliva Minor, Shalora Neely, Emily Brooke Pace, Luke Parker, Madison Roark, Breonna Rhymer, Odalis Sanchez, Emily Sergent, Gabrielle Snyder, Haley Spurlock, Carlee Stephens, Makayla Walters, Shiann Westfelt, Malia Williams and Hannah Wood.