Jupiter High School's Spanish Competition Team, known as Los Amigos Vagabundos, brought back trophies and honors in the 6A Division of the Florida State Spanish Conference held in Orlando on April 2-4, 2008. Sixty four schools participated in the state-wide competition. With only two returning members, Leandro Sicard and Bautista Cruz, from the 2007 team, the 2008 students rose to the occasion and earned 747 of a possible 800 points. Leigh Clark, sponsor, and Julio Halty, chaperone, led the team for the 10 th consecutive year. The students competed in four categories-impromptu speaking, declamation, dramatic presentation and native costume. In the impromptu speaking category, sophomore Tashina Vallejo received a superior rating as did senior Jesús Gracia. Seniors Bautista Cruz, Cheryl Askey, Curtis Jeffries, Cristian Gracia, Catalina Rodríguez, Leandro Sicard, Rosa Cahue, sophomores Elizabeth Esteban and Juan Salazar, and Junior Angela Gomez all received highest honors, sobresaliente. Topics ranged from the importance of democracy in politics to how being bilingual is advantageous to a person.

In the declamation category, senior Curtis Jeffries received a rating of superior for his rendition of the poem Coplas de amor viajero. Senior Bautista Cruz, dressed in full regalia of an Inca King, received a superior rating for his interpretation of the poem, La Tristeza del Inca. SeniorCheryl Askey recited Estar enamorado and received a sobresaliente award. Senior Jesús Gracia, dressed as a swashbuckling pirate, recited Canción del pirata, by José de Espronceda, and received the highest award of sobresaliente. Finally, sophomore Juan Salazar interpreted Versos sencillos, by José Martí, and was awarded a sobresaliente award.

In the dramatic presentation division, the students performed Fantasía de Navidad, by Cuban writer Oscar Hijuelos. The judges awarded the students a perfect score. In the role of Santa, Cristian Gracia shone with an emotional rendition of how he and his wife, aptly played by Angela Gómez, lost track of their infant son some thirty years ago, accidentally leaving him under a Christmas tree in Rome. When a reporter named Rico Pollo, played by Leandro Sicard, from Time magazine interviews the couple, they discover that Rico is their lost son. The happy ending was supported by seniors Bautista Cruz, playing a magical bird Pío Pío, Catalina Rodríguez, in the role of the Snow Fairy, Rosa Cahue, in the role of the elf Carozo, and sophomores Tashina Vallejo, in the role of Bailarín the reindeer and Elizabeth Esteban as the Angel of Light. This competition marks the first time that the JHS team has received a perfect score for the play category in 10 years of participation. The students received a classroom trophy for their efforts.

In addition, Bautista Cruz received the third place trophy in the costume category. Wearing the traditional outfit of the chief Inca, Bau honored his Bolivian heritage by appearing in the parade of costumes during Friday night's banquet. The judges appreciated the fine handwork of his costume and his presentation. Bau is the only three year veteran of the team.

Newcomer Cheryl Askey was the team's biggest winner of the three-day event. In addition to her two outstanding sobresaliente awards, she received a $100 scholarship from the Florida Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese for her writing in the senior essay competition. Three seniors from each school vie for prizes of cash and trips to Spain for study abroad. Curtis Jeffries and Catalina Rodríguez also wrote essays for the JHS team. Winner Askey is a member of the AP Spanish language class taught by sponsor Clark. "I am extremely proud of Cheryl. She has grown so much in her understanding of the rules of Spanish grammar, punctuation and accentuation over the three years that I have known her. She deserves to be recognized."