News Release

June 6, 2022

NEBRASKA STUDENTS AWARDED SEALS OF BILITERACY

The Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska International Language Association have awarded 145 Seals of Biliteracy to 144 Nebraska students this semester. This is the first time that a Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy has been issued for the language of Somali.

The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy is a collaboration between the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the Nebraska International Language Association honoring high school students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in English and at least one other language.

Students apply for the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy after demonstrating proficiency based on the Nebraska World Language Standards structured around communication, cultures, connections, communities, and cognition within a language other than English.

2022 Spring Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Recipients

 

Ana Raymundo-Tercero

Omaha South High School

Spanish

 

Chris Lopez

Papillion La Vista Senior High School

Spanish

  

Emmy Lu Feek

Falls City Senior High School

Spanish

 

Ashley Rivas Martinez

Crete High School

Spanish

 

Darlyn Reyes Sosa

Omaha South High School

Spanish

 

Genesis Acosta-Garcia

Lexington High School

German

  

 Brisa Garcia-Vargas

Lexington High School

Spanish

 

 

Ella Goeke-Schulte

West Holt Rural High School

Spanish

 

Gisela Meza-Guzman

Omaha South High School

Spanish

 

Gissell Martinez-Garcia

Omaha South High School

French

 

Jenny Dong

Millard West High School

Chinese

 

Karissa Rieck

Lincoln Southwest High School

French

 

Mallis Bonner

Omaha South High School

Spanish

 

Haley Hernandez-Sandoval

Lexington High School

Spanish

 

Jose Gonzalez-Hilario

Omaha South High School

Spanish

 

Landon Magana

Omaha South High School

Spanish

Sadie Jarecke

West Holt Rural High School

Spanish

 

Janna Marley

Lincoln High School

Spanish

 

 

Karen Estrada Gutierrez

Omaha Central High School

Spanish

 

Mailyne Zubiate-Rodriguez

Omaha South High School

Spanish

 

 Community support is a crucial aspect of strengthening the foundation of World Language instruction. We are excited to announce new partnerships that will strengthen the Seal of Biliteracy program.

The University of Nebraska Lincoln will recognize the NE Bilingual Seal of Biliteracy for students entering this fall. Students who have earned a Gold or Silver designation in Spanish, French, and German will be placed into more advanced classes and will have the potential to earn retroactive credit.

Wayne State College will award six credits for students who have achieved a Silver designation and nine credits for those students who achieve a Gold designation.

Four organizations are also providing extra support for students. The Lincoln Chinese Cultural Association, the Nebraska Chinese Association, the Nebraska Languages Initiative and the Embassy of Spain will work with teachers and the community to provide professional development and other supports for students working towards the Seal of Biliteracy.

And Heartland Steel LLC has announced their support for the Seal by recognizing it as evidence of bilingual skills in their hiring process.

More information about the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy can be found online at: www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage/nebraska-seal-of-biliteracy.

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