Crestview students host deaf community banquet

CRESTVIEW — A group of Crestview students put on one last event before the end of the school year, offering a dinner and a show to the deaf community.

American Sign Language students at Crestview High School hosted a deaf community banquet May 23 at the school.

The banquet was followed by entertainment in the auditorium, featuring songs, skits and educational demonstrations focused on the deaf community.

Connie Salvador, who teaches American Sign Language at the school, said the banquet was intended to celebrate the deaf community and to thank them for giving the students the opportunity to be a part of that community.

“It’s our way to say thank you, that we appreciate that you let us learn your language,” Salvador said. She said it also helps fulfill one of the ASL standards her program has.

This is the first year the school has hosted an event like this, and Salvador hopes to make it an annual occurrence. Each of the students in her classes pitched in to make the event a success.

“We put it together in a month and every student had something to do with it,” Salvador said. “Every student had a talent and they all gave it, and they’re here tonight providing their talents.”

Students from the Fort Walton Beach High School ASL program took part in the entertainment program as well, performing their version of Will Smith’s theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Mark Ehrlichmann, director of the non-profit Agency for Deaf Advocacy and Services, helped with outreach for the event. Ehrlichmann, who is deaf, spread the word within the community and provided Salvador and her students with names of people to contact for the event.

“We work together professionally and collaborate ideas on how we can make a better positive impact for the deaf community,” Salvador said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview students host deaf community banquet