Students at the Mill know that continuing a second language comes with many benefits. One of these benefits is the International Skills Diploma Seal that the Georgia Department of Education awards to graduating seniors in the participating schools.

“[Earning the seal shows] that they understand the importance of being culturally aware and globally competent,” world language department chair Laura Alldredge said.

Five seniors from the Mill earned the distinction: Laura Anderson, Caroline Andrews, Elisabeth Bergmann, Jenna Sanders, and Zemmie Steger.

For Starr’s Mill, this is the second year awarding the ISDS to acknowledge student achievements. This year, more students had time to prepare and to show that they are globally competent and competitive.

In order for the graduating seniors to qualify for the ISDS, they must complete an international education curriculum and engage in extracurricular activities. Then, after the qualification, a Capstone Project has to be presented in front of the evaluation committee.

“[Capstone Project is] to show what they have learned, to tell us how they have made connections between the language course classes, other classes, and their experience through volunteer work,” Alldredge said.

Part of the course requirement is the completion of at least three credits in the same world language and at least four credits designated International Focus Courses.

“Also, the biggest piece and probably the one that may be toughest for students to get is at least 20 hours of community service that has some type of international component to it,” Alldredge said.

More information about the ISDS is on the school website. Upcoming seniors can start preparing for the seal during summer break.