MICDS community members recently gathered to celebrate student achievements in our World Languages Department at the fourth Annual Seal of Biliteracy Ceremony. This year’s ceremony marked a significant milestone for the department, recognizing a stellar group of students with exceptional proficiency in a Language Other Than English (LOTE) in the 2024-2025 academic year. Earning this seal signifies impressive language skills and a deep appreciation for different cultures. It’s a symbol of a student’s dedication, cultural awareness, and the valuable global skills they have acquired.
The Missouri Seal of Biliteracy is a prestigious credential that acknowledges students who have gone above and beyond in their language studies. To earn the Seal, students must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in all four language domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking on the STAMP (Standardized Measurement of Proficiency) assessment, which is an assessment aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines. Students must also demonstrate proficiency in sociocultural competence, assessed through projects, essays, or presentations where they reflect on how their language skills have helped them connect with and improve their local and global communities.
At the event, JK-12 World Languages Department Chair Patrick Huewe shared, “It’s a genuine honor to be here today to celebrate a remarkable achievement: your earning of the Seal of Biliteracy. Look around you! You are now officially, certifiably, linguistically gifted. You’ve not only mastered the intricacies of grammar and vocabulary, but you’ve also unlocked a whole new way of seeing, understanding, and interacting with the world.
“Think about it. You can now confidently navigate a bustling market in Madrid, order un croissant parfait in Paris without resorting to frantic pointing, or maybe even impress your relatives with your Mandarin New Year greetings (earning extra red envelopes is a definite perk!). You can delve into the rich tapestry of literature in its original form, experiencing the nuances and emotions the author intended, not just what gets lost—or sometimes hilariously misinterpreted—in translation.”
This year’s recipients benefited from the dedication of exceptional instructors, including Huewe, Mandarin Chinese Teacher Lily Childs, French Teacher Dr. Steven Crumb, and Spanish Teachers Robin Begley, Sarah Elliott-Vandiver, and Kelly Weidenmiller. Their tireless efforts create a dynamic and supportive environment where students can flourish in their chosen languages and experience them in and outside the classroom in authentic ways. The teachers who preceded them also deserve recognition for preparing students at the novice and lower intermediate levels.
The guest speaker for the event was Associate Professor of Spanish at St. Louis University, Dr. Christina Garcìa, whose specialties include phonetics, phonology, and sociolinguistics. Huewe said, “Dr. Garcìa’s journey in language is truly inspiring. Like many of you pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy, she has a deep passion for Spanish, earning her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D., all with a focus on Hispanic Linguistics.
“What’s particularly interesting is that her research has taken her around the world, from Argentina to Ecuador, studying how language changes and connects with people’s identities. She’s not just an academic; she actively engages with the local Latino community here in St. Louis, showing how valuable bilingualism is in our daily lives.
“Dr. Garcìa’s work is at the cutting edge, even exploring how technology can help us learn pronunciation. Her dedication to understanding language and connecting with communities makes her a fantastic role model for our students and a distinguished speaker whose insights I know you will all appreciate.”
Special Recognition for Distinguished Seals
Special congratulations go to students who received the Distinguished Seal of Biliteracy. This honor recognizes those who have achieved an even higher level of proficiency in their LOTE. This year’s Distinguished Seal recipients are Alexa Davis ’26, Jacob Genin ’26, Olivia Hill ’26, Angelia Hu ’26, and Kate Niemeyer ’26.
Huewe said, “The Seal of Biliteracy is more than just a line on your transcript. It signifies a profound openness to other cultures, a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and the intellectual agility to hold multiple perspectives. You’ve learned that the world isn’t just black and white, or even just in English. It’s a vibrant, multilingual, multicultural masterpiece; you now have more keys to unlock its beauty.
“So, as you display this seal with pride, remember the doors it opens. Remember the connections you can forge. Remember the laughter you can share in another language—even if it’s laughing at your initial attempts! Congratulations, Seal recipients. Go forth, be curious, bold, and wonderfully, beautifully bilingual! The world is waiting to hear from you.”
Congratulations to all the MICDS World Languages students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy in 2025! Your dedication to language learning is an inspiration to all.
Click here to see the complete list of awardees.