Twelve Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy for the Spring 2024 semester.
The Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded each spring and fall to students in ninth through 12th grades who demonstrate a proficiency in English and at least one other language before graduating high school.
The program 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.
ASMSA students who earned the seal this fall include:
- Maya Allen, a junior from Harrison, Spanish;
- Jimi Frazier, a senior from Hot Springs, Japanese;
- Jaime Hernandez, a junior from Decatur, French;
- Alex Hernandez-Oaxaca, a senior from Conway, Spanish;
- Anna Jones, a senior from Camden, French;
- Charlotte Lammers, a senior from Blytheville, French;
- Andrew Nguyen, a senior from Sherwood, French;
- Katherine Quintanilla, a junior from Nashville, Spanish;
- Rene Ramirez, a senior from Pearcy, French;
- Shea Stabila, a senior from Pangburn, Spanish;
- Emily Xiong, a senior from White Hall, Spanish; and
- Kalyn You, a junior from Everton, Chinese.
Since the 2017 pilot year in Arkansas, a total of 5,553 students from 105 high schools around the state have attained this certification across twenty-four languages other than English, according to a release from the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy Committee.