MENDOTA - Mendota High School Principal Denise Aughenbaugh is pleased to announce that 14 Mendota High School students have been recognized as “2019-2020 Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy and State Commendation toward Biliteracy” scholars. The prestigious award is given annually by the Illinois State Board of Education to deserving students.

There were over 125 Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy participating school districts for school year 2019-2020. Honored Illinois public high school graduates who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in four domains in English, and a language other than English are eligible to earn the seal. An official seal will be placed on the diplomas and confer official recognition on transcripts of those students who qualify.

Two honors are available, 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 Teaching of Foreign Languages. The Commendation of Biliteracy is awarded to students who proficiency level is rated at Intermediate Low or Intermediate Mid in a second language.

MHS selection was based on English language scores assessed using either the SAT English subscore, ACCESS for ELLS reading and writing subscores, or the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in languages (AAPPL) Measure. Students at MHS proved proficiency in foreign language by taking the Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Culture exam in the foreign language of Spanish or the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward proficiency in languages (AAPPL) measure. While this distinguished recognition does not include a monetary prize, recipients are encouraged to cite the honor on applications for college admission and scholarships and increased employment opportunities.

The following Mendota High School students have been named 2020 graduates with the State Seal of Biliteracy: Uriel Arellano, son of Felix and Carmen Arellano; Oswaldo Arteaga, son of Oswaldo and Maria Arteaga; Victoria Arteaga, daughter of Rita Arteaga; Sonia Duarte, daughter of Sonia Salinas and Ruemy Duarte; Gabriel Guzman, son of Evitelio and Leticia Guzman; Kevin Lewis, son of Kevin and Kelly Lewis; Esmeralda Perez, daughter of Jose and Guadalupe Perez; Karen Perez, daughter of Fredy and Daisy Perez; Christopher Sandoval, son of Susana Correa; Jonathan Schmidt, son of John and Joan Schmidt; and Harvey Vela, son of Yolanda Vela

Class of 2020 graduates who qualified to graduate with the Commendation of Biliteracy honors are Ivan Figueroa, son of Mario Figueroa; Abraham Guzman, son of Jose and Maria Guzman; and Jose Sandoval, son of Maritza Castaneda.

For more information, please visit http://www.isbe.net/seal-of-biliteracy/default.htm.