On October 9, and in celebration of the closing days of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Windward was honored to host Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated composer Germaine Franco for a special guest speaker event. The first woman of color to win the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (for Disney’s Encanto), Germaine spoke to students, faculty, and staff about her incredible career path, her upbringing, and the important lessons and relationships she's fostered throughout her journey. Our students thoroughly enjoyed her thoughtful presentation, and gave her plenty of cheers for the lasting impact her work has had on numerous generations. The event culminated with a student-led question and answer segment, wherein Germaine challenged those in attendance to put in the work to achieve their dreams, while making sure to appreciate and thank those who help them along the way.
“We were honored and privileged to have Germaine grace us with her presence during Monday Morning Meeting for our first all-school assembly of the year,” said Ryan Shelven, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. “As she shared her journey through her decorated career, she reminded the entire community that it takes a strong work ethic and a sense of gratitude to accomplish your dreams. The student body showed great respect and interest in her story while also soaking up the many accomplishments of her illustrious career. Having Ms. Franco speak to our community was the perfect way to end the ongoing celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, and we hope to have her back in the future.”
We thank Germaine for sharing her time and expertise with us!