OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Four Silver Creek students earned the Seal of Biliteracy at a recent Board of Education meeting. Pictured from left to right: Teacher Albert VanDette, Karissa Buchanan, Alexander Karnes, Travis Brennan, Trenton Logan, and Teacher Anne Tahamont.

SILVER CREEK — Four Silver Creek students have received special honors just prior to their high school graduation.

Trenton Logan, Karissa Buchanan, Travis Brennan, and Alexander Karnes earned the Civic Seal of Biliteracy for their efforts in studying a second language. Teachers Anne Tahamont and Albert VanDette introduced the students at a recent Board of Education meeting.

Logan was the district’s lone recipient for his studies with the Seneca language. Logan decided to pursue the Seal of Biliteracy because language is part of his culture. He said it was “the right thing to do” in trying to preserve the Seneca language.

Logan said, “It’s a dying language so I thought it would be good to be a part of trying to bring it back.”

For his mastery project, Logan baked frybread, a traditional food of indigenous culture. Logan hopes to speak the Seneca language fluently upon returning home to his territory.

“Trenton has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in preserving and promoting the Seneca language — a vital part of our heritage,” Tahamont said. “His commitment to linguistic and cultural preservation is commendable, and we applaud his efforts in keeping the Seneca language alive for future generations.”

Buchanan, Brennan, and Karnes all studied the Spanish language to earn their Seal of Biliteracy. They each researched a school in a Spanish speaking country to compare and contrast what everyday life is like from a student perspective. The students were tested through conversation with Spanish teachers and also presented their project with PowerPoint slides depicting what they described in Spanish.

“These students have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in Spanish, showcased in their dedication and passion for the language. Their achievements reflect their hard work and commitment to linguistic excellence,” Tahamont said.

Buchanan, the district’s Valedictorian, pursued the Seal of Biliteracy because she is of Puerto Rican descent, but never learned to speak Spanish prior to schooling. “It’s something that I always wanted to learn just to connect to my family members,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan researched a school located in Costa Rica. She found that the school schedule begins in January and concludes in November due to the difference in climate from what we experience in the United States. Buchanan also noted that the school she studied was very involved in religious studies as practicing Catholics.

“The project has really taught me a lot about diversity and exploring different cultures,” Buchanan said.

Brennan’s Seal of Biliteracy project was to study at a school in Spain that was the home school of a foreign exchange student that attended Silver Creek during Brennan’s freshman year.

“I got to talk to her a bit during this project to connect with her and look at how her school is different,” Brennan said. He thanked his teachers for their help throughout the project.

Brennan noted that the school in Spain does not have an American football team like Silver Creek does, but noted their passion for soccer.

“It was just really cool to see all the differences in the cultures,” Brennan said. “At the same time, there are still a lot of similarities between them.”

Karnes said he has always been passionate about other cultures and languages. He recalled memorizing capitals and flags of other countries as a child. Karnes has explored other languages including Swedish and German, but the Spanish language is the first among them that he feels confident in speaking fluently.

For his project, Karnes studied a school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The school is a trilingual school, with students proficient in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Karnes noted that students and staff utilize all three languages, which he called “incredible.”

Karnes also highlighted that the school he studied was strong in academics, athletics, and technology. He highlighted soccer, tennis, field hockey, and taekwondo as athletic highlights. The school took an international trip to the University of Oxford in England, and students are also involved with community blood drives.

“To all our awardees, your accomplishments are a testament to your hard work, perseverance, and passion for languages,” Tahamont said. “You have not only excelled academically, but also have embraced the beauty of cultural diversity. As you move forward, may you continue to use your linguistic skills to bridge gaps, build connections, and make meaningful contributions to our global community.”