Nikos Koss Awarded Junior Travel Scholarship Through National Spanish Exams, Won Trip To Puerto Rico This Summer

Congratulations to Nikos Koss of Wilmington High School’s Class of 2023 on being awarded a Junior Travel Scholarship through the National Spanish Examinations.  With this award, Nikos traveled to Puerto Rico for a nine-day cultural program in July of 2022 with 23 other high school students from all over the United States.

Nikos’ outstanding scores on the NSE during his sophomore year made him eligible to apply for the scholarship, which had a lengthy application process including an essay written in Spanish and an interview with his Spanish teacher, Meghan Burns, conducted completely in the target language.  Nikos earned a gold medal on last year’s exam as well as two silver medals during his freshman and sophomore years.

During his time in Puerto Rico, Nikos toured a Spanish fortress, visited a rainforest, ziplined, kayaked in the bioluminescent bay, learned how to salsa dance and sampled local cuisine such as arroz con pollo, tostones, flan, and Puerto Rican coffee.  You can read more about Nikos’ adventures here.

Nikos is currently continuing his study of Spanish during his senior year at the Advanced Placement level.

Submitted by Sra. Meghan Burns, WHS World Languages Department Spanish Teacher

Wilmington World Languages Department Celebrates our 2022 Award Winners!

Wilmington Public Schools

World Languages Department

Awards and Recognitions

Graduating Class of 2022

Seal of Biliteracy Awards 2022    

The Wilmington World Languages Department is very proud to recognize the exceptional efforts and achievements of our Class of 2022 World Language students. 

This is the fourth year awarding the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary State Seal of Biliteracy, the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, and the Language Opportunity Coalition Biliteracy Achievement Award! This year, we are very proud to present this senior class with 30 awards! 

The Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction is given in recognition of students who have tested and proven an Advanced-Low level of proficiency of a second language. This is the highest award achievement possible. 

• Melanie Phares - French

• Nikolas Giniotas - Lithuanian

• Medha Pal - Spanish

• Laura Tran - Italian

The Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy is given in recognition of students who have tested and proven an Intermediate-High level of a second language. 

The State Seals of Biliteracy are awarded to: 

• Brenda Da Silva - Portuguese

• Emersyn Foresyth - Spanish

• Lauren Hutchison - Spanish

• Madison Mulas - Spanish

• Rhiannon Dyment - Spanish 

• Grace Wiberg-Pichetti - Italian

• Jake Chirichiello - Italian

• Nicholas DiNatale - Italian

• Tayla McDonald - Italian

• Vu Uyen My Tran - Vietnamese (moved)

The Language Opportunity Coalition, the group responsible for the law that recognized the Seal of Biliteracy in the State, created the Biliteracy Achievement Award for students who have attained Intermediate-Mid Proficiency in a second language. 

We are very proud to award the Biliteracy Achievement Awards to:

• Sofia Donovan - Spanish

• Emily McHugh - Spanish

• Julia Schleier - Spanish

• Michael Moody - Spanish

• Alyssa Rago - Italian

• Shea Cushing - Italian

• Angelina Zaykovskaya - Italian

• Angelyn Ciampa - Italian

• Lilly Rubin- Italian

• Jack Toomey - Italian

• Amanda Solari - Italian

• Gabriella Monteforte - Italian

• Liam Giuliana - Italian

• John Rhind - Italian

• Kelli Schuler - Italian

• Holly Lemay - Italian

The Seal of Biliteracy is part of a National Movement now across 49 of the 50 states that recognizes the exceptional ability of students to be a part of a language and culture beyond English. We are immensely proud of all these students and all of the students who continued their world language journey through four consecutive years of high school. 

National Language Awards

The following seniors have earned an Achievement Award in the National Spanish Exam after receiving a score above the 70th percentile nationally. 

• Rhiannon Dyment

• Emersyn Foresyth

The following senior earned a Bronze Award in the National Spanish Exam after receiving a score above the 80th percentile nationally.

• Brenda Da Silva

Massachusetts Italian Teachers Association Scholarship Award

The Massachusetts Italian Teachers Association (MITA) selected Lillian Perriello out of many deserving students the commissioner chose to receive 1 of the 5 scholarships awarded this year! 

Recognizing the commitment and passion necessary to maintain excellent programs that stimulate the academic spirit of our young people, we congratulate you on your commitment to spreading the Italian language in our schools. Lillian is presented with this award and a check for $ 500.00.

We want to especially thank the Procopio family who made the scholarship possible.

Lillian will be attending Columbia University this fall, where she has also been selected as a C. Prescott Davis Scholar.  This prestigious honor is only offered to the top 8% of all of Columbia's admitted students in recognition of their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and commitment to their community and is their way of fostering the promise and potential Columbia sees in students like Lillian.  From research opportunities to mentorships to funding to explore her passions, Lillian will undoubtedly continue to do great things in the coming years as a student at Columbia.

Excellence in World Languages

This year’s award for excellence in World Languages goes to Emersyn Foresyth! She finished her studies in Spanish this year in Spanish 5 Honors and earned the Seal of Biliteracy! 

Click here to see the website where we recognize all of our students’ impressive awards and achievements!