30 LHS Students Earn Seal Of Biliteracy

LEMONT, IL — Starting with the last school year, Lemont High School students were afforded the opportunity to be recognized by the state of Illinois for earning proficiency in English and one additional language. The school said 31 LHS students from the class of 2019 earned Seal of Biliteracy honors.

According to the school, these students were recognized with an official seal on their diplomas and official recognition on their transcripts, demonstrating their high level of proficiency in one or more language in addition to English. Two honors are available through ISBE’s Seal of Biliteracy program: the Seal of Biliteracy and the Commendation Toward Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to those whose proficiency level is equivalent to the Intermediate High scale set by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The Commendation of Biliteracy is awarded to students whose proficiency level is rated at Intermediate Low or Intermediate Mid in a second language.

The Class of 2019 graduates who earned Seal of Biliteracy accolades include:

Charlene Balisalisa, Kayla Baskiewicz, River Calderon, Joseph Campagna, Victoria Freitakas, Victoria Garcia, Matthew Gasienica, Anna Goranski, Emily Herrera, Natalia Hornik, Julia Hryc, Kara Karbarz, Jennifer Jeon, Kateland Kirk, Ethan Leyden, Marissa Loisi, Natalia Mendez, Margaret Micetich, Elena Miciulis, Clare Mielczarek, Leonardo Nuñez, Maggie O’Brien, Natalie Palarz, Jennifer Quiroz, Janet Quiroz-Esparza, Katrina Retzke, Yendi Rosas, Rasa Siniakovas, Joseph Spinelli, Ieva Tarasovaite and Stephanie Valle.

In addition to the students who earned Seal of Biliteracy accolades, the school said more than 60 Class of 2019 graduates achieved the Commendation Toward Biliteracy. Of Lemont’s Class of 2019 who enrolled in a fourth-year World Languages class, 79.5 percent earned either Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Toward Biliteracy honors.