Anmol Patel, Year 12, has a weekend of research on Columbia and the Canary Islands ahead of her, she tells me, preparing for the final round of the Spanish Embassy Competition on 2nd December, for which she has been selected. Anmol will complete linguistic tests in the morning; then, in the afternoon, entertaining the judges about Columbia and the Canary Islands just might clinch the prize – a place on a summer expedition from Spain to Columbia, recreating one of the main Conquistadore routes and focusing on the historic heritage of the journey.

This world-wide competition is organised by the Spanish Government Foreign Office. La Ruta Quetzal started back in 1979 and is sponsored by the Spanish King as a way to consolidate and promote links within Spanish students (15-16yrs) from all over the world. This is a prestigious scholarship worth £10,000 to the lucky winners. To get this far, one of 20 finalists, Anmol has demonstrated her high academic, sport and community action profile. It’s a great achievement, especially since Anmol taught herself Spanish while she lived in Kenya and started learning with the department here when she arrived at JAGS in Year 9. ¡Buena suerte Anmol!

25 November 2011