Eligible for Students in Grades 3-12

Speaking, reading and writing two or more languages is a superpower for our future. NYSABE pushes to empower multilingual students to embrace their abilities, channel their culture, and inspire others on what it means to be bilingual and biliterate in today’s world.

Winners will be announced and recognized on March 20, 2027, at the Student Awards Session during the 2027 NYSABE Annual Conference at The Sonesta White Plains Downtown Hotel, White Plains, NY.

Each winner will have the opportunity to read their essays aloud at the conference, a published entry in NYSABE’s The Bilingual Times Newsletter, and an opportunity to win a Medal of Biliteracy and a gift value of up to $150 USD.

Essay Prompts – GRADES 3-8 Below:

• Question 1 – Your Identity & Voice: Being bilingual means you can speak, think and dream in more than one language. How does knowing more than one language shape who you are? Think about your family, your culture, and your community. How does your language connect you to where you come from and where you are going?
• Question 2 – Your Community & Your Future: We live in a time when our neighborhoods are more diverse than ever. How does being bilingual or multilingual help you make a difference in your community today? Think about how you use your language to help others, connect with people, or solve problems around you.
• Question 3 – Technology, AI & the Changing World: Artificial intelligence, social media and technology are changing how we communicate every day. Why is it more important than ever for young people to speak, read, and write in multiple languages in a world shaped by technology? How can your bilingual skills do things that technology cannot do?

Essay Prompts – GRADES 9-12 Below:

• Question 1 – Identity, Resistance & Pride: Language is deeply tied to identity, culture, and belonging. How has your bilingual or multicultural identity shaped your sense of self, and how do you navigate spaces where your home language may be undervalued or silenced? Reflect on the relationship between languages, power, and self-advocacy.
• Question 2 – Community Impact & Social Justice: Bilingual individuals often serve as bridges between communities, institutions, and systems. In what ways do you use your multilingual abilities to advocate for equity and justice in your school or community? Consisder the role of language access in healthcare, legal systems, education, civic participation.
• Question 3 – Technology, AI & the Future of Language: Artificial intelligence can now translate languages instantly – yet human bilingualism remains irreplaceable. What can a bilingual person do that AI translation cannot? How will your multilingual skills position you for leadership in a world increasingly shaped by automation and global connectivity?

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 1, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS: December 19, 2026