JTHS Students Receive Honors at GlobalFest 2013

Four Joliet Township High School students recently received awards at GlobalFest 2013, which took place on March 8-9 at Normal Community West High School.
 
Joliet Central High School freshman Giovanni Alvarado received first place, “Best in Show,” for his performances on the Japanese Koto.  From Joliet West High School, junior Carla Mireles received first place for her French-inspired drawing entered in the arts and crafts competition.  Junior Laura Villalobos received third place for her French-inspired painting and senior Skarleth Alarcon received first place for her "livret de famille,” French family book.
 
GlobalFest is a celebration of world languages and culture where participants from middle and high schools immerse themselves in world cultural experiences, languages and competitions.

This year, Joliet West French teacher Jo Anne Bratkovich was the chair of the event.
 
“I have been involved with the GlobalFest committee for over ten years,” Bratkovich said.  As part of her duties, she worked to contact immersion teachers to teach at the event along with entertainment and other personnel.
 
At the event, the Joliet Central French Club members taught the Bachata dance to over 100 high school students, and members of the Joliet West French Club led sessions of Multi-lingual bingo. Joliet West student Joshua In taught Korean for two hours, while West student Orkidea Bajrami taught Albanian.
 
The following parents of Joliet West students also taught at the event: Amjad Sheikh (father of Emma and Hannah Sheikh) taught Punjabi language; Lucy Singireti (mother of Emma Idiyalu) taught Chechiwe language; Norah Alawsi (mother of Diana and Dialah Azam) taught Arabic language.  
 
“Central sponsors and French teachers, Sharon Eichensehr and myself, are very proud of our students who cultivated cross-cultural understandings and enhanced their global perspectives by attending and presenting at GlobalFest 2013,” said Joliet Central foreign language teacher, Yvonne Yelnick-Pickett.
 
 Bratkovich and Joliet West High School teacher Lisa Eyan were equally proud of their students.

“Lisa and I are proud of the contributions of our students,” she said.