By Kelli Mayhew, Grand Island Public Schools

The hard work of 10 students at Grand Island Senior High helped them make school history – along with setting their academic resume apart from their peers.

Ten GISH students have officially earned the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy. For the first time in the school's history, the first in the Grand Island Public Schools district to do so. The prestigious award recognizes students who have attained a high level of proficiency in both English and at least one other world language.

While the Seal of Biliteracy was first established in California in 2011 and adopted by Nebraska in 2020, GISH leaders have been looking for the perfect moment to launch the initiative locally. That moment arrived when Oscar Fuentes Tiu, AP Spanish teacher at GISH, noticed a trend of exceptional performance in his classroom.

"Oscar emailed me and said, 'Hey, we had 10 students who scored three or higher on the AP test,'" Dr. Amanda Levos, EL Director recalled. "I said, 'Well, that's amazing. We got to do something with it.'"

The students qualified by demonstrating mastery in AP Spanish Literature and Culture, a rigorous course that challenges even native speakers to dive deep into complex texts and linguistic analysis. Students take the AP exam to qualify for the honor.

Biliteracy, not to be confused with bilingual, means you can not only read, write and speak a language, but that you also understand the meaning of the language and the culture that comes with it. 

(Above: Elizabeth Gabriel Pintor is surprised with the Biliteracy Medal. Courtesy photograph.)

Earning the Seal of Biliteracy isn’t just about adding a line to a high school transcript; it carries tangible benefits for the students’ futures. Benefits for the students include potential college credit, national recognition, and a career advantage as it sets them apart from others.

However, for many of these students, the achievement is deeply personal. It serves as a formal validation of their identity and family history. 

"Language shapes their identity, their culture, and their family," Fuentes said. "They represent their family; it's not just a last name."

Elizabeth Gabriel Pintor is the first GISH student to graduate with the Seal of Biliteracy, as she was a midterm graduate in December. 

“It's the biggest highlight of my high school career. I put a lot of effort into the exam. I spent a lot of time preparing for it outside of school. And this award means a lot too, because it means that my culture has played a big role in my success,” Elizabeth shared.

David Diaz Hinojosa, GISH senior, is part of the inaugural honorees at GISH. He plans on going into the architecture field, and said having this Seal of Biliteracy gives him an advantage.

“I think biliteracy is pretty important,” David said. “It's important to be able to speak and understand both languages [English and Spanish] pretty fluently, to excel in any industry,” he said. 

Kimberly Fuentes Ochoa, GISH senior, explained that this Seal of Biliteracy is more than just academic achievement.

“It more reflects my cultural identity in a broader aspect,” Fuentes Ochoa said. “We as students, we take AP courses, we challenge ourselves with dual credit and go above and beyond. And I just feel like being biliterate and having that different experience really reflects the amount of hard work we as a class put in.”

While this inaugural group focused on Spanish, the vision for Grand Island Public Schools is much broader. The district is home to a rich tapestry of languages, and leadership is eager to expand the program.

"We have students who speak more than just Spanish," Dr. Levos noted. "We want to find ways to honor our students who speak Arabic and Somali... and continue to grow and expand this opportunity."

For Elizabeth, this opportunity is one that has really expanded her future and boosted her confidence. 

“As someone who wants to go into the healthcare field, it is more meaningful to me,” Elizabeth said. “It means that I get to communicate with the patients in a different manner, because I'm going to be able to understand them and their culture better.”

In addition to helping her become a more caring and well-rounded future healthcare professional, Elizabeth said the honor validated her effort and her humanity. 

“It feels amazing, because my whole high school career, I felt like I wasn't maybe doing enough, or like I was unimportant,” Elizabeth said. “And for me, this award means a lot, especially with my parents. I'm a first generation [college student]  and they are really proud of me for getting this award. It means a lot, to me, the school and my parents,” she shared.

As the "first generation" to receive this honor at GISH, these ten students have set a new standard. For Mr. Fuentes Tiu and Dr. Levos, the work has just begun. The goal now is to ensure that the door they've opened remains wide for every student who follows.

"They deserve this recognition for all the work they put into it," Fuentes Tiu said. "It's not an easy class—it's a challenge. We are very proud."

Congratulations to the first-ever Grand Island Senior High Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Scholars: 

David Diaz Hinojosa - Spanish - Silver

Kimberly Fuentes Ochoa - Spanish - Silver

Elizabeth Gabriel Pintor - Spanish - Gold

Jackelyn Garcia Yucute - Spanish - Silver

Lincy Lopez Perez - Spanish - Silver

Juan Pablo Magana Garcia - Spanish - Gold

Jesenia Pedroza Sotelo - Spanish - Silver

Eva Raymundo Paiz - Spanish  - Silver

Kevin Sanchez Barrios - Spanish - Silver

Katherin Xicara Ramos - Spanish - Gold