Randolph Early College High School has been recognized as a 2025 Hall of Fame Service Award recipient for its extraordinary project, Habla Conmigo. This innovative cultural exchange event was designed to bridge language and community divides through food, conversation, and compassion. This honor places them among just three clubs nationwide selected for the prestigious recognition and affirms the powerful impact of student-led service that transcends traditional boundaries.
Habla Conmigo (Spanish for “Speak With Me”) was created from a vision to form genuine connections between Randolph Early College Beta members and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students at Randolph Community College. Rather than organizing a formal program or classroom exercise, students designed the event around something all cultures hold dear: a shared meal. From homemade tamales and birria tacos to arroz con pollo and flan, students brought culturally significant dishes and gathered around tables to share not only food, but also their personal stories, traditions, and aspirations.
This meaningful setting fostered a sense of belonging and trust. ESOL participants, many of whom struggled with language anxiety, found themselves speaking English more freely, gaining confidence, and later showing improved classroom participation and collaboration. The organic, heartfelt nature of these conversations proved far more impactful than conventional language instruction.
For Beta members, the project was transformative. By engaging in real dialogue with empathy and curiosity, they developed essential leadership qualities including cultural sensitivity, active listening, and emotional intelligence. They learned to serve not by leading from the front, but by lifting others beside them. The event helped redefine inclusivity on campus, creating a living example of what it means to build a truly welcoming community.
From planning to execution, the students demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategy. Beginning with a project proposal at their regional Leadership Summit, they researched best practices in cultural exchange, pitched the idea to Randolph Community College’s ESOL program, and secured a critical partnership. Every element, from meal planning and recruitment to crafting open-ended conversation prompts, was thoughtfully designed to ensure mutual growth and deep engagement.
On the day of the event, Beta members transformed the space into a festive, inviting setting. They welcomed guests, introduced dishes with signage explaining cultural origins, and facilitated dialogue with grace and attentiveness. When conversations lagged, they gently re-engaged participants, ensuring every voice was heard and valued.
Habla Conmigo was more than a meal. It was a movement. It stood apart from typical service projects by refusing to settle for surface-level impact. Instead, it created moments of vulnerability, trust, and deep human connection. By addressing systemic challenges such as linguistic isolation and cultural division, the project became a catalyst for school-wide cultural transformation.
“The richness of this project lies in its authenticity,” shared Beta Sponsor Lauren Wood. “Our students didn’t just design a service event. They built a bridge between communities—one story, one dish, one conversation at a time.”
As one of this year’s Hall of Fame honorees, Randolph Early College High School’s Habla Conmigo is a shining example of National Beta’s mission in action. It empowers young people to lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and build a better world through connection. It reminds us all that when we come together with open hearts, we create more than understanding. We create unity.