Members of the Spanish Club at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, kick started their semester with a fundraiser for Valentine’s Day, and they will continue to be involved with various activities throughout the rest of the school year.
Two weeks prior to Valentine’s Day, members took orders for sweetheart and friendship roses. Each rose came with a love poem or friendship poem that was written in Spanish and English.
“It was a very successful fundraiser,” said Laquita Houston, a junior computer information systems major from Wilmot and president of the Spanish Club.
“We sold a lot of roses and delivered them all on Valentine’s Day.”
To celebrate Foreign Language Month, the Department of English and Foreign Languages and the Spanish Club will co-sponsor a poster contest for all students currently enrolled in foreign language courses. The theme of the contest is “Languages bring Cultures Together.” First place receives $100, second $75, third $50, and honorable mention $25.
The deadline to submit posters is Thursday, March 9. More information and contest rules can be found on the third floor of Wilson Hall.
Also to commemorate Foreign Language Month, specially designed T-shirts will be sold. They will be available at $10 for students and $12 for faculty and staff.
When entering Wilson Hall, everyone will be greeted by banners welcoming people in a wide variety of foreign languages in honor of Foreign Language Month. There will also be a literary reading scheduled during the month.
On Saturday, March 4, Spanish Club members assisted with the Southwest Arkansas Foreign Language Alliance (SAFLA) Festival held in the Reynolds Center on the campus of Southern Arkansas University.
“Several students participated as festival judges,” said Dr. Elba Birmingham-Pokorny, professor of Spanish at SAU and advisor to the Spanish Club. “Others provided tours of our campus and assisted with the overall success of the program.”
Spanish Club members are also designing a T-shirt for general purchase that will incorporate the University colors.
“We hope to have those available at Spring Fling,” said Houston. “The shirts will be of good quality and affordable to students, faculty, staff, and community members.”
Also at Spring Fling, the Club will have a gaming booth with a piñata.
There is a special bulletin board display on the third floor of Wilson Hall. The display includes flags of the world and other information from other countries.
Students will participate in several sessions when they attend the annual conference of the Arkansas Foreign Language Teacher’s Association in Hot Springs.
“This is an excellent opportunity for students to network and make contacts,” said Pokorny. “It will allow them a chance to see what the job market looks like.”
Beginning in March, the Spanish Club will initiate a film festival that will continue throughout the semester.
Spanish films will be shown from 2 to 4 p.m. each Thursday. A discussion will follow. Students who participate will receive credit. Currently enrolled students in any Spanish course are encouraged to attend these showings.
“The goal is to immerse the students in the culture,” said Pokorny.
In the near future, students will visit the office of the Spanish newspaper in Little Rock. They will meet with the editor and publisher and see what opportunities are available in the journalism field.
The group has also been invited to be part of a venture for a Spanish newspaper in Nashville.
For more information regarding any of the activities sponsored by the Spanish Club at SAU, call 870-235-4206.
