Language Testing International, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL, is thrilled to sponsor the Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Scholarship, an award that recognizes the dedication of language learners who attain proficiency in two or more languages. This scholarship serves as a platform to honor their remarkable achievements and celebrate their linguistic accomplishments.
This year, we received nearly 100 submissions for the award. Students achieved the Seal in a wide variety of languages, including Hindi, Russian, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and more. The breadth of languages represented by the winners and honorable mentions is truly remarkable.
It is truly astounding how these proficient language learners are leveraging their skills to make a tangible impact. Among the scholarship recipients, one student developed an app to aid Ukrainian refugees in accessing crucial local services. Inspired by his Russian skills and heightened cultural awareness, he tackled the challenges faced by refugees head-on. Another student shared her story of utilizing her Spanish proficiency in her hotel job, creating memorable experiences for guests. Numerous students expressed how their language development has deepened their connection with their home country, family, and culture. Their inspiring narratives demonstrate the incredible potential that language proficiency unlocks.
Join us in celebrating these exceptional individuals as we introduce this year’s scholarship recipients and acknowledge their outstanding accomplishments.
First Place: Victoria Cuellar Garcia (English, Spanish)
“The Seal of Biliteracy is an accomplishment that has allowed me to see how far I’ve come after nine years of being away from my culture, my country, my people, and my language. Being able to say I speak Spanish is one thing. But being able to use it and apply it in a manner that not only is going to benefit myself but others around me is going to open many more doors in the future.” Victoria’s heartfelt delivery evoked a genuine emotional response from us, immersing us in her story and creating a lasting impact.
Victoria’s submission showcased her bilingualism as she seamlessly transitioned between English and Spanish, demonstrated her mastery of both languages, and provided a glimpse into her cultural background and linguistic versatility. Moreover, Victoria’s personal narrative as an immigrant struck a deep chord within us. With deep honesty, she shared her experiences, triumphs, and challenges, allowing us to embark on her journey alongside her. Her story not only captivated our attention but also shed light on the broader issues faced by immigrant communities.
Karen Beavers, Victoria’s teacher, further reinforced the impact of her journey through a heartfelt video nomination. Beavers passionately spoke about Victoria’s connection to her roots and community, recounting her ten-year journey from limited English proficiency to achieving the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy. Through her words, Beavers conveyed Victoria’s contagious passion and dedication to others—a source of inspiration for all. Victoria embodies the values of compassion, empathy, and resilience, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on her community. Her character and values left a lasting impression on us.
Victoria’s submission reminds us of the power of language and personal stories to bridge divides, foster understanding, and ignite change. Her genuine delivery, bilingual prowess, and willingness to share her journey reaffirm the transformative impact of language proficiency and the importance of fostering inclusivity in our communities. Victoria is an exemplar of the potential within each of us to create a positive impact, and we are honored to recognize her as this year’s winner.
Second Place: Mailey Hamilton (English, Spanish)
Mailey captivated us with her inspiring language journey and firm dedication to Spanish. Her transformative experience, combined with her commitment to continuous growth, earned her this well-deserved recognition. In her submission, Mailey talked about her transformation from simply fulfilling language requirements to a passion and desire to expand her knowledge and linguistic abilities. Mailey also opened up about her struggles with learning a new language and the moments of doubt she had experienced along her path to proficiency. However, she recognized the importance of embracing failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. Every misinterpretation became a steppingstone toward improvement, reinforcing her resolve to persevere.
“Attaining the Seal of Biliteracy validates how far I have come from the timid little girl in her Spanish 1 class and the hard work I’ve put in to get there. Not only does the Seal represent where I have been, it also represents where I am going. With this new boost of confidence, I am further motivated to keep diving deeper and expanding my knowledge of the Spanish language. Learning Spanish has been a rich and rewarding experience that I plan to continue,” Mailey shared in her submission.
Mailey’s teacher, Angela Barrera, spoke of Mailey’s perseverance in overcoming challenges as well as her passion to connect with Spanish speakers around the world on a deeper level. She also recognized Mailey’s achievement of attaining the Seal of Biliteracy: “Mailey Hamilton is the first person in our district, town, and in most of northern Michigan to receive the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. It is a major milestone for her on a personal level, and she is literally putting our town on the map of the Seal recipients in Michigan. She is sending a strong message to other students that they can earn it as well.”
Third Place: Rachel DeAngelis (English, French)
Rachel’s extraordinary dedication and perseverance have set her apart and earned her third place. Her remarkable story, as shared by Rachel as well as her teacher, illustrates the transformative power of resilience and the unwavering pursuit of linguistic proficiency.
Initially, Rachel did not obtain a score high enough to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. Limited exposure to French outside of the classroom, combined with a lack of travel experiences and community opportunities to practice the language, posed additional challenges. While this setback could have dampened her spirits, it only ignited a burning desire within Rachel to push forward and achieve proficiency. From immersing herself in French to tutoring underclassmen, Rachel was dedicated to not just studying the language but actively living it.
“To me there was never a question [about why I wanted to learn French],” Rachel shared in her submission, “everything I had ever known was relayed to me through English, but things are happening in the world, and I want to be a part of it. There are an estimated 1.5 billion people who speak English and over 300,000 who speak French, meaning that with French alone, I increase the number of people I’m capable of communicating with by more than 20%. With over 7,000 languages out there, the least I could do is learn another one. And what makes languages so special is that they are not words, but worlds. There is never any question of if learning one is useful or ‘worth it’ because every facet of life, whether that be career choices or personal interests, exists in the world unlocked by your second, third, or hundredth language.”
Third Place: Elani Spencer (English, Spanish)
Elani’s remarkable journey in learning Spanish has tied her for third place in this year’s award. Elani’s teacher’s submission and her own story highlight the immense challenges she faced as the sole member of her family attempting to learn a new language. Each summer, Elani would lose her progress because she did not have anyone to practice her language with. Despite this setback, her determination and unwavering passion for the Spanish language shone through. “Each new school year was like I was starting from scratch. That’s why achieving the Seal is so important to me,” she said in her submission video.
Elani’s teacher, Nichole Robinson, described her as one of the most exceptional students she encountered. Elani’s linguistic talent and dedication led her to win multiple poetry contests across the state, and she even became a state finalist for the prestigious 2023 New York State Youth Poet Laureate. Robinson shared with us that during the poetry unit in Spanish IV, Elani’s writing, both in English and Spanish, was nothing short of breathtaking. She even took the initiative to assist her peers with their poetry. Elani’s profound understanding of the power of bilingualism is evident. She recognizes the vast opportunities that await her by being literate in both Spanish and English. With her love for languages and her proven ability to conquer any task that comes her way, Elani continues to strive for excellence. “Achieving the Seal of Biliteracy is a physical representation of my growth over the past few years. And it proves my hard work paid off. Now I can easily immerse myself in the cultures of different Spanish speaking countries, and language will never be a barrier that blocks us from forming friendships with one another.”
Honorable mention: Leyla Murati (English, Albanian, French, ASL)
Layla’s impressive achievement of the Seal of Biliteracy in multiple languages (Albanian, French, ASL, and English) demonstrates her passion, determination, and an indomitable spirit to overcome any obstacles on her path to success. In her submission video, Layla spoke of her love of the Albanian culture and language and how important it is to her to be able to communicate with her relatives in Albania. “Speaking Albanian has brought me closer to my heritage and my culture,” shared Layla in her submission video. Leyla’s teacher, Jose Dominguez, spoke passionately about her exceptional talents and willingness to embrace the opportunity to learn new languages, unafraid of making mistakes along the way. “She is truly a stand-out individual who will impress everyone she meets. Someone who understands what it really means to be bilingual with a multicultural understanding of the world around her,” he shared in his nomination.
Honorable mention: Evan Thoms (English, Spanish, Russian)
Evan left a lasting impression on us with his extraordinary creativity, dedication, and remarkable levels of empathy. Fluent in Spanish and self-taught in Russian, driven by his future aspirations in cybersecurity, Evan’s passion and commitment led him to achieve the prestigious California Seal of Biliteracy in three languages. However, what truly inspired us was Evan’s profound dedication to assisting a Ukrainian refugee student in navigating the challenges of American high school life. His proficiency in Russian proved invaluable as he provided translation assistance, facilitated communication with peers and teachers, and supported his new friend, Artem, in studying for his classes. Thanks to Evan’s support, Artem was able to successfully complete his studies thousands of miles away from his war-torn country. Evan’s humble reflection on his achievements resonated deeply with us. In his submission, he eloquently expressed, “The Seal of Biliteracy does not mean complete mastery of a language, but it means I have pushed through mistakes, awkward pauses, and misunderstandings in pursuit of connection. It represents a few moments of understanding a native speaker better, writing with slightly improved grammar, or opening oneself to a cultural practice. By earning these Seals, I have gained confidence that I can learn to make connections in any language.” Evan’s achievements and his impact on others make him a truly exceptional individual who embodies the essence of empathy, linguistic proficiency, and cultural understanding.
Honorable Mention: Arely Guadalupe (English, Spanish)
Arely’s submission speaks volumes about her dedication, drive, and remarkable achievements. As a first-generation student, Arely has risen above challenges to excel academically, become a community leader, and actively pursue her chosen career path as a bilingual educator. Her teacher, Rebecca Castro said this about Arely: “Throughout all her experiences, Arely meets every challenge with her award-winning smile and positive attitude and is not thrown off by last minute changes or curve balls in the plan. She is a problem solver and a go getter, and as a first-generation student, her future as a bilingual educator is already shining bright.” In her submission video, Arely was not afraid to show her emotions about having struggled with learning English and translating for her parents when she was a child. She also expressed her pride in being the only Spanish-speaking tutor at a local elementary school and helping other children with schoolwork. “As a future Latina educator, I’ll pursue to welcome my students by not only saying good afternoon but also by saying buenas tardes and letting them know that both English and Spanish are beautiful on their own.”
Thank you to everyone who submitted their nomination. Each of you is a remarkable individual who has harnessed the power of language to create positive change in your communities. Your journeys serve as a testament to the transformative impact of language proficiency. Together, we honor your achievements and are inspired by what language learners can do and are doing with their linguistic abilities.
