Twelve students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one other language before graduating high school.
The Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded each spring and fall to students in ninth through 12th grades and is sponsored by the Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association and the Arkansas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. The Arkansas Department of Education officially endorsed the seal in June 2018. The Seal of Biliteracy program is recognized in 49 states and Washington, D.C. There were 340 students from Arkansas 38 high schools who earned the seal this fall. More than 3,600 students have attained certification across 22 languages other than English since 2017, the pilot year in Arkansas, according to a press release.
ASMSA students who earned recognition this fall include:
- Michelle Lin, a junior from Little Rock, Chinese;
- Vicky Zhu, a senior from El Dorado, Chinese;
- Eliana Adamos, a senior from Harrison, French;
- Zephyr Smith, a senior from Hot Springs, French;
- Madison Ballard, a senior from Pocahontas, Spanish;
- Isaura Funes, a senior from Conway, Spanish;
- Sydney Hammond, a senior from Conway, Spanish;
- Kaira Harper, a junior from Jonesboro, Spanish;
- Carter Horton, a junior from Conway, Spanish;
- Lydia Krebs, a senior from Maumelle, Spanish;
- Beatrice Nkunga, a senior from Sherwood, Spanish; and
- Ai’yanna Tombs, a senior from North Little Rock, Spanish.
Students who apply for the Seal of Biliteracy must complete an application in which they submit evidence of their proficiency in both languages. Students can use their seal of recognition on college and job applications to show future employers and admissions offices that they are proficient in two or more languages.