The Hispanic Honors Society is an academic organization at North Central Highschool. Not only that, but it’s also a community that focuses on cultural awareness, service and connecting with the community. These values are shown through volunteer work, events and partnerships with other organizations. This organization allows students to give back to others while celebrating hispanic culture.
Erin Lizer is the leader and club sponsor of the organization, as well as a Spanish teacher. Ever since she took over the club a decade ago, she has initiated a significant transformation for the club.
“Hispanic Honors Society kind of evolved from Spanish Honors Society. It was a club that was predominantly geared towards white, Spanish honors students that were more interested in spreading cultural awareness about the use of the language,” Lizer said.
When Lizer took control of the club, she wanted to make the club more inclusive for students coming from any background.
“When I took it over nine years ago I tried to be more inclusive with getting other students, especially students of color and Hispanic-Latino students because I feel like they’re a very underrepresented group of people when it comes to the honors societies here at North Central. The group has evolved into a much more volunteer and philanthropic-driven society,” Lizer said.
Service is a main priority for the club, as it regularly organizes volunteer opportunities and events designed to support people within Washington Township and throughout Indianapolis.
“Our mission is to give back to our community within Washington Township, as well as Indianapolis as a whole. We’ve created partnerships with a lot of groups [such as] the Latino Democratic Caucus, The Amor Movement, and several other groups,” Lizer said.
Hispanic Honors Society is a great opportunity for any students interested in Spanish, Hispanic culture, or community service. Members in the club develop leadership skills, help plan and participate in volunteer events and get the opportunity to connect with students that share similar interests.
“I joined Hispanic Honors Society as a junior after taking Spanish 4X because I really liked the language and thought it would help me learn more about culture while also volunteering for good causes,” senior Kayley Spicer said.
Spicer is the manager of the club’s social media page and helps group members stay updated on events and meetings.
“Last year I became the social media manager for the club, which means I make social media posts and send out reminders of meetings and other events,” Spicer said.
Not only does Hispanic Honors Society provide leadership opportunities, it provides a chance to participate in events that combine community service and culture.
“Some of my favorite parts of being in the club are the big group events like the cookie decorating, culture fest, or present wrapping during the holidays when we give back to the community,” Spicer said.
Hispanic Honors Society gives members an opportunity to combine their interest in the Spanish language with service.
“This is my first year as a member of the Hispanic Honors Society. I chose to join because I really enjoy the Spanish language and I’m always looking for volunteer opportunities so I thought this would be a good chance to do both of those things at the same time,” senior Ben Milata said.
Friendships, connections and shared experiences are highlights of time in the club.
“I really like going to group service events with my friends like tutoring at Northview. One of my favorite memories from the club was the cookie decorating event we did last semester,” Milata said.
The Hispanic Honors Society continues to grow and as it does, its focus remains on service, culture and being involved in the community. Volunteer work and meaningful partnerships remain at the core of the club while also providing students with the opportunity to celebrate Hispanic culture and make a positive impact across the city.
