CRESTVIEW — Until Thursday night, Hannah Gould had never been serenaded by a TV singer. Now, the junior can add the tableside croon by a "Latin American Idol" to her high school memories. More than 100 students, faculty and family members filled Crestview High School’s multipurpose room with food, song and dance during the Spanish Club's annual Hispanic Celebration.
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"Latin American Idol" performer Amid Montelongo serenaded not just Hannah, but also teachers and even 6-year-old Jyden Wadell, who followed him to the floor and joined in.
The evening — which began with senior Alex Messick and junior Sage Boho’s trumpet duet of "Tigre de San Pedro” — included a message from motivational guest speaker Ricardo Soria, Air Force veteran and retired Okaloosa County and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University educator. "Change happens all the time," he said. "The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to accept the environment in which you find yourself."
Cultural performances included Soria's son Reid, representing Autism Sings, performing "Shooting Star" and "Go the Distance." Emanuel Piñeiro played the Puerto Rican 12-string guitar, and 2010 CHS alumna Stephanie Ortega played Vince Guaraldi's familiar "Linus and Lucy" theme from the Charlie Brown TV specials on flute. Isabel Sabato and Cornelio Lashley got the audience clapping with a selection of Dominican Republic dances and a snappy Cuban salsa to a Latin version of Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther Theme."
"It's a fun event," Spanish Club president Celina Toso, a senior, said. "We learn a lot and we meet great new people."
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHS fiesta features food, music and a 'Latin American Idol' (PHOTOS)