214 students present multilingual skills in pursuit of the New York State Seal of Biliteracy

Thursday, May 8, 2025

214 students present multilingual skills in pursuit of the New York State Seal of Biliteracy

Zenat Sahak is a senior from Liverpool High School who recently gave presentations in two languages, Pashto and Dari, the two official languages of her native country, Afghanistan. Zenat and her family–her mother, father and five siblings–moved to the United States six years ago. Her dad is a senior inspector for the massive I-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse.

Sahak focused on those languages because, after being in the U.S. for six years and primarily speaking English, she’s worried about forgetting them.

“I’m not that fluent now since I’ve been here,” she said. “I had to go back and teach myself all the things I didn’t know.”

Sahak was one of 214 students from 13 Central New York school districts who showcased their multilingual skills on April 28 at the OCM BOCES Main Campus in Liverpool. Their formal presentations, given before a panel of judges, represented 29 languages from around the world. Their goal: to qualify for the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) — a seal on their high school diploma that recognizes their proficiency in more than one language.

Recipients of the seal earn the special insignia on their diplomas and a medallion to wear at graduation. The designation distinguishes bilingual and multilingual graduates in the eyes of colleges and employers, marking them as part of a select group fluent in English and at least one other language.

The event was organized by the Mid-State Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network, or RBERN, which is housed at OCM BOCES.

“The NYSSB Scoring Day is one of the most joyful days of the year,” Mid-State RBERN Assistant Director Sabrina Nudo, Ed.D., said. “We are celebrating students’ identities, languages, and hard work, and recognize that biliteracy is a true asset in their future. It’s an honor to support such an empowering milestone.”  

Sahak’s presentation in Pashto focused on the history, food and culture of Afghanistan. Her presentation in Dari focused on a small village in an eastern province of Afghanistan, Laghman, where she was born. She visited her grandparents in Afghanistan for two months last summer but was unable to go to Laghman, which she describes as “beautiful.” Someday, she hopes to return.

In the meantime, she plans to graduate from high school and attend Le Moyne College, where she intends to major in political science and business. The work she did for the Seal was well worth it, she said, calling the entire process “fulfilling.”

Not all students chose to use language alone during their presentations—one communicated through Spanish and music.

In a room filled with peers nervously awaiting their turn, Cicero-North Syracuse High School student Cameron Spagnola quietly strummed his nylon-string acoustic guitar.

“My project is about differences in guitar—American guitar versus Spanish guitar,” he said. “I’m going to talk about how both of them are played, different styles and I’m going to do a demonstration.”

Cazenovia student Nat Gale, who has studied French since fifth grade, chose to present on a topic that fascinated him: the way France regulates its official use of words and language.

“In France, they have this government organization that chooses which words the country uses and which dictionaries are printed,” he said. “It’s a little bit different than the United States—it’s a government document.”

At least three other students, including East Syracuse Minoa student Duncan Roberts, presented in Latin. His project explored the connection between modern sports and entertainment and the Roman Coliseum.

“I’m presenting on the Roman Coliseum and how that affects today’s modern era,” he said. “It’s a combination of things—it’s the actual meaning behind the Roman people being freed from oppression based on the downfall of Emperor Nero, and it’s also an icon of sports and how our sports are shaped today.”

Amanda Viel, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support Services, said OCM BOCES was proud to host this event and “provide students in our component districts with this opportunity, as it represents a significant distinction on their New York State diploma.”

“We are especially thankful to the dedicated team whose hard work and commitment made this event possible,” she said.