Spanish Honors Student Earns Trip to Mexico

This summer, Savvas Petridis, a Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Junior and member of the Spanish Honor Society, will embark on a two-week, all-expenses-paid educational trip to Mexico. Savvas was one of 24 students across the country to win the Bertie Green Travel Award. This award is granted by the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanic (National Spanish Honor Society) to recognize student success and achievement.

Petridis, a non-native speaker, was required to submit a video and an essay entirely in Spanish expressing why he should be chosen for the Bertie Green Award. In this translated selection, Savvas explains his drive and desire to further his Spanish studies, and dive deeper into Hispanic Culture.

“A visit to Mexico will expand my knowledge of Mexican culture. I have only studied Mexican art and culture through books. But this is not enough for me. My desire to learn Mexican culture cannot be satisfied with the information text books offer. Only a trip to Mexico can satisfy my desires and if I go, I can create a greater respect for Mexican culture and understanding deeper than the Mexicans.”

Petridis explained that his Spanish language teacher and Spanish Honor Society advisor, Dani Davidzon selected him and a few other students to apply for the Bertie Green award. After reviewing each of the videos and essays, Davidzon chose Savvas as the final candidate. Davidzon explained that this is the 3rd year in a row that a student from SPFHS has won this award and the fourth student to win in the last five years.

Although Petridis expressed an eagerness to witness the architecture and artistry of ancient Mayan ruins and the works of Frida Kahlo first hand, Petridis’ reason for venturing to Mexico on stems from his desire to connect to the Spanish culture.

Petridis got a taste of this experience, volunteering for El Centro Hispano Americano, a Union County organization devoted to helping recent immigrants grow and thrive in this country.  

“Volunteering at El Centro during gave me the opportunity to break across language barriers. You develop this cultural connection with people you could normally never communicate with. This brings you closer to that person. “

Petridis explained that his determination to never lose touch with the elements of Spanish language and culture stems from a piece of his childhood that he fears he will never get back.

“When I was very young, I was completely fluent in Greek. It breaks my heart because I can’t even talk to my grandparents. I don’t want this to ever happen with Spanish. Traveling to Mexico will be another inspiration to use the language with other people and keep it fresh in my brain.”

Petridis explained that he views the Bertie Green trip to Mexico as the ultimate way to not only practice the language, but to develop a connection with a completely new culture. Harkening back to his Greek roots, he explained why this experience means so much.

“Unfortunately, if you lose the language, not only do you lose a huge part of your cultural identity, you alienate yourself from others and are unable to meet new people and share your feelings with others. I don’t ever want to forget the very thing that has brought me so close to another culture – the language.”

Petridis is planning to not only study Spanish throughout college, but to also incorporate it into his career. He stated that he wants to have a broader influence on the world rather than “sitting in a cubicle, counting money.” Petridis plans on doing so by finding new and innovative technologies that can help the environment.

“If you can sell a wind turbine to a town or solar panels that you can put on a neighborhood house, you’re given the opportunity to change that town or change that neighborhood. By doing so, you exemplify what could happen in society if everyone moved away from other sources of energy to cleaner, more efficient methods.”