Fayetteville-Manlius High School senior Arthur Souza has been named a recipient of the 2026 American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) Exams Senior Scholarship. He will receive a $1,000 award.
This national program recognizes exceptional student achievement and language proficiency. It is awarded annually to a small number of top-performing seniors. There are typically around 60 recipients each year.
Arthur’s dedication to learning Spanish started five years ago.
“What first drew me to the language was my appreciation for Hispanic culture, especially the music and dance traditions that make it so vibrant and unique,” he shared. “As I continued studying Spanish, I developed a deeper understanding of the language and the diverse cultures connected to it.”
To secure an AATSP Senior Scholarship, Arthur needed to meet highly competitive eligibility criteria. Applicants must be graduating seniors who scored at or above the 75th percentile on the National Spanish Exam (NSE) for multiple consecutive years, and they must enter higher education immediately following graduation. Teachers are also limited to nominating only one candidate from their respective school. Arthur was nominated by Spanish teacher Athena Tzetzis.
After earning a Gold medal for four consecutive years, he says the National Spanish Exams have served as a valuable benchmark for his academic growth.
“It challenged me to improve my skills in basically every aspect of the language and grow as a student outside of basic classroom knowledge,” he reflected. “Learning Spanish has allowed me to broaden my perspective, connect with new ideas and people, and gain a greater appreciation for cultures around the world.”
The district congratulates Arthur on this achievement and commends the world language faculty for their continued mentorship and commitment to academic excellence.
