Several Midlakes High School students have earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy after demonstrating high-level proficiency in two or more languages.

"This is something to be proud of, as in previous years, we've had just a few seniors earn this honor," said senior class advisor Kelly Hart, noting more than a dozen students met the standard to earn their seal.

The Seal, first offered at Midlakes during the 2020-2021 academic year, underscores the importance of diversity in an increasingly global, multilingual society.

The recognition is a prestigious academic accomplishment for the students signifying their multi-year commitment and success in studying English and world languages.

Julie Chen will wear a gold medallion, earning her seal in Spanish, English and Mandarin Chinese. Her classmates demonstrated proficiency in English and Spanish.

Students earning the seal include:

Frank Acevedo-Martinez
Eleany Resendiz
Brooklyn May
Yareli Cruz-Castro
Jonathan Capozzi
Aiden Bryant
Julie Chen
Marley Conrad
Makenzie Davis
Ashlyn Downey
Anthony Gleason
Amelia Santy
Maya Stevenson
Eden Trzeciak