County Honors High School Seniors with Seal of Biliteracy Awards

Press release from the Humboldt County Office of Education:

The 12th annual California Seal of Biliteracy Award Ceremony was held on May 14 at the Sequoia Conference Center in Eureka.

This event started in 2012-13 and this year recognizes and celebrates dozens of graduating high school seniors from Humboldt County Schools for achieving a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in at least two languages. The first celebration had 39 students receive this recognition. This year 150 students earned this recognition.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievement of students from ten Humboldt County schools who have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy this year,” said Michael Davies-Hughes, Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools. “These students have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in multiple languages, showcasing their dedication, hard work, and commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity. Their accomplishments not only enrich our community but also prepare them for a globalized world.”

Students who meet the requirements to have the California Seal of Biliteracy added to their high school diplomas meet rigorous criteria in English and at least one other language. These criteria include World language coursework, GPA requirements, written essays, and comprehensive interviews conducted by Cal Poly Humboldt’s Department of World Languages and Cultures professors, high school world language teachers, and community members.

The Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) hosts two events annually. In March are the oral proficiency interviews for the students with over 200 candidates. Over 40 professors, teachers, and other community volunteers interviewed the students. In May, HCOE hosts a ceremony to award the Biliterate students medals and certificates to honor their achievements. Students also receive a Seal of Biliteracy for their diplomas/transcripts from the California Department of Education.

This year four students gave speeches about their journey to literacy in two or more languages. HCOE celebrated 150 students from 10 high schools. The multilingual high school seniors represented 12 languages: Spanish, French, German, Hmong, Japanese, Turkish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Ukrainian, Urdu, Italian, and English. There were 4 tri-literate and polyglot students–proficient in 3 or more languages–among these representatives were honored exchange students!

Each of you, as a multiliterate & multicultural individual, perhaps now better understand not to tolerate others for their differences, but instead to accept and, better yet, to celebrate the multiple ways in which we may be unique as individuals and how we have much to learn from one another; this we understand will help build a more harmonious and inclusive world. — ¡Cada persona es un mundo–respeta cada uno! Everyone is a world unto themselves–respect each one!” – Seal Coordinator and HCOE Learning Specialist, Agustín Amaro

For more information, please visit https://hcoe.org/seal-of-biliteracy/ or contact HCOE Learning Specialist and Coordinator Agustín Amaro, at (707) 440-9159 or [email protected].