Eight Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy for the Spring 2026 semester while seven students met the qualifications for the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
The Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded each spring and fall to students in ninth through 12th grades who demonstrate a proficiency in English and at least one other language before graduating high school. The program is sponsored by Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association and the Arkansas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. The Arkansas Department of Education officially endorsed the seal in June 2018. The Seal of Biliteracy program is recognized in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
Since the 2017 pilot year in Arkansas, a total of 9,561 students from 136 high schools around the state have attained this certification across 55 languages other than English, according to a release from the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy Committee.
Students who earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy this spring include:
• Ridgely Bond, a senior from Marion, French;
• Grace Ann Conn, a senior from Van Buren, French;
• Dahlia Cortez-Woodard, a senior from Plainview, Spanish;
• Jordan Gauldin, a senior from Foreman, French;
• Nathan Grady, a senior from Blytheville, Spanish;
• Colton Melson, a senior from Springdale, Spanish;
• Jun Park, a senior from Maumelle, Spanish; and
• Malee Vang, a senior from Lincoln, Japanese.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy is an international language certificate that recognizes and celebrates their level of proficiency in two or more languages. To learn more about the Global Seal of Biliteracy, visit theglobalseal.com.
Students who earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy this spring include:
• Jun Park, a senior from Maumelle, Korean and Spanish;
• Luis Vidal Jr., a senior from Fort Smith, Spanish;
• Raegan Smith, a senior from Jonesboro, French;
• Emily Lin, a senior from Little Rock, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish;
• Kira Marshall, a senior from Benton, Spanish; and
• Malee Vang, a senior from Lincoln, Japanese.