Islip High School recognized 14 dedicated seniors for earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy during a May 29 ceremony in the school’s cafeteria. This prestigious honor is bestowed on high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal is affixed to each student’s diploma and high school transcript.
Hannah Krecl earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Italian, and Alexandra Antunez, Parker Barry, Joallene Cabreja, Katherine Cando, Lia Guzman, Juliana Morales Pinzon, Jaci Narducci, Michelle Quinteros, Matthew Ramirez Zapata, Kaitlyn Rodriguez, Chaeli Sanchez, Jaden Vargas and Jessica Villavicencio earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.
Additionally, juniors Emely Crespo and Melanie Marroquin were recognized as Seal candidates demonstrating proficiency in Spanish, and juniors Jasmin Argueta Arriaza, Ian Garcia, Alessandro Llamoca Perfecto, Nicole Matute, Kevin Medina Argueta, Jailany Pacheco, Isabella Ulloa, Jefferson Vanegas and Queli Velasquez Rivera were recognized as Seal candidates demonstrating proficiency in Spanish research.
The ceremony, Islip’s third since initiating the Seal of Biliteracy program, was overseen by Seal of Biliteracy advisers Sarah Ito, Karen Maisano, Claudia Osorio and Giuseppa Prainito, with Antunez, Narducci and Marroquin offering student presentations.
“It is truly a pleasure to be here today to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of our high school students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy,” Coordinator of World Languages/ENL Rabia Hirji said. “Throughout the academic year, these students have fulfilled demanding coursework in English and a world language. Their dedication and effort in mastering another language is truly commendable and highlights the importance of bilingualism in our increasingly interconnected world.”
“Since middle school, you have developed your listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in another language,” Principal Lara Gonzalez told the students. “Once at our high school, you deepened your commitment to your chosen language and study by fulfilling the multitude of requirements of the New York State Seal of Biliteracy. When I went to high school, no such pathway existed. Only about a decade ago, the New York State legislature established the opportunity for you to pursue the Seal of Biliteracy designation. Given our state’s long history of being a destination for people all over the world, from every corner of our planet, it seems fitting that tonight we celebrate you and your achievement of becoming multilingual.”
Date Added: 6/6/2024