This year, we are proud to announce that 17 seniors have earned the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy, and nine seniors received the Commendation Towards Biliteracy. These honors recognize our students' outstanding proficiency in English and additional languages, reflecting both our school’s commitment to academic excellence and the rich diversity of our student body.
The languages represented by this year’s recipients include German, Karen, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, and Swahili. These awards celebrate not only linguistic skills but also cultural understanding and global readiness, preparing our students for success beyond high school.
The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to students who demonstrate strong proficiency in both English and a second language, earning recognition on their diplomas and transcripts. Meanwhile, the Commendation Towards Biliteracy honors students who have made significant progress in developing biliteracy skills and encourages continued language growth.
We applaud all of our recipients for their dedication and achievement. Their biliteracy skills will open doors for future academic and career opportunities, and we wish them incredible success as they graduate and embark on their next chapters.
Earning the Seal of Biliteracy and Commendation Towards Biliteracy in Illinois
The state of Illinois recognizes and celebrates students’ proficiency in multiple languages through two important honors: the Seal of Biliteracy and the Commendation Towards Biliteracy. These recognitions encourage language learning and acknowledge the valuable skill of biliteracy in today’s diverse society.
Seal of Biliteracy
The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. This honor appears on the student’s diploma and transcript, highlighting their bilingual skills to colleges and employers. RIMSD students are also given a medal to wear during their high school graduation ceremony.
To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must:
Meet English proficiency requirements: Usually demonstrated by passing state assessments or meeting local district standards in English language arts.
Show proficiency in a second language: This can be done by passing an approved language proficiency exam, completing advanced language coursework, or demonstrating equivalent skills through other district-approved measures.
The Seal of Biliteracy signals a student’s readiness to engage in a multilingual world and supports future academic and career opportunities.
Congrats to these incredible seniors who earned their Seal of Biliteracy:
Karen:
Ywa Tar Hay Htoo and Poe Soo Paw.
Spanish:
Luis Arrendondo-Lopez, Jessica Lopez, Isabella Marceleno, Pedro Ramirez, Milca Robles, Brody Lenger, and Yasmin Contreras-Villagomez.
Swahili:
Richard Niyonzima, Betty Francoise, Milingumu Wilondja, Presence Erodiance, and Seraphine Bonyema.
Commendation Towards Biliteracy
The Commendation Towards Biliteracy is designed to recognize students who have made significant progress in developing biliteracy skills but may not yet meet the full requirements for the Seal of Biliteracy.
To receive this commendation, students must meet similar requirements as the Seal of Biliteracy, with the only difference being a slightly lower threshold of language proficiency.
This commendation motivates students to continue their language learning journey and builds awareness of the benefits of biliteracy.
Congrats to these incredible seniors who earned their Commendation Towards Biliteracy:
German:
Benjamin Huisman
Spanish:
Cecilia Chavez, Jose Salinas-Pelaez, A’rion Lonergan-Shinskia, Mu Phlay K’Tooe Soe and Mia Hixson
Swahili:
Arafati Kizungu, Lucie Cornelio and Olivier Itabelo.
Benefits and Impact
Both the Seal of Biliteracy and the Commendation Towards Biliteracy foster a positive learning environment that values linguistic diversity. They empower students by validating their language skills, encourage cultural understanding, and enhance college and career readiness.
For educators and administrators, these recognitions provide a framework to support multilingual students and promote equity in language education.