Berks’ Best 2026 world languages winner: Amalia Cannon childhood connection plays large part in her goals

For Amalia Cannon, Spanish was the glue that held together one of her first and closest bonds.

Her Spanish-speaking godmother, Amalia Alejo, who she affectionately calls “Mami Mello,” babysat Cannon until she was 3.

“She taught me how to spell my family members’ names in my sopa de letras (word search) and sang ‘El sauce y la palma’ as she rocked me to sleep,” Cannon, 18, said.

Eventually, she could only see her godmother occasionally, and Cannon’s ability to speak Spanish began to fade with irregular use.

“It broke my heart to see language become a barrier, rather than something we shared in common, so I swore to myself that I would study Spanish and regain what I had lost,” Cannon said.

Since then, Cannon, Reading Eagles’ Berks’ Best 2026 winner in world languages, has amassed a wide berth of experiences and goals in her pursuit of Spanish mastery.

A senior at Wilson High School, Cannon started studying Spanish in eighth grade.

She’s become involved with the World Language Honor Society and is president of the Model UN at Wilson, in addition to serving in a variety of student outreach roles with the Wilson student government, Mini THON and more.

“Both the faculty at Wilson High School and her peers hold Amalia in great esteem,” Donna Orchowski, honors Spanish teacher at Wilson, said in a recommendation letter to Berks’ Best.

Her Spanish studies culminated last summer, when she had the chance to study at the University of Salamanca in Spain during a weekslong immersion program.

That experience helped cement Cannon’s goal of opening a bilingual practice as a child psychologist.

She’s been accepted to multiple universities and aims to pursue a bachelor’s degree and eventually a PhD in psychology, with a minor in Spanish.

While in college, Cannon also hopes to volunteer in the Spanish-speaking community through outreach and mentorship programs.

“Throughout this time, I will further my Spanish fluency so I can take on Spanish-speaking clients,” Cannon said. “Opening my own practice will enable me to help parents foster healthy environments in which children can thrive, whether that involves guiding parents through co-parenting despite divorce or teaching strategies to cope with their children’s struggles.”

She hadn’t decided on a school as of late April but said her top two choices out of those she’s been accepted to are Cornell University and Georgetown University.

For now, Cannon is happy to speak Spanish fluently again with her godmother.

“When I visit my godmother, the lyrics of ‘El sauce y la palma’ come flooding back, and an enormous smile covers her face as we sing together,” Cannon said.