‘Global Scholars’ recognized at Chartiers Valley High School

Six Chartiers Valley High School seniors have been recognized for their efforts in learning a foreign language and global education.

This year’s “Global Scholars” students at Chartiers Valley are Brady Baranowski, Mikayla Diyanni, Aislinn Myrah, Natalia Palumbo, Sky Schmidt and Sydney Trainor, said advisor and 26-year Spanish teacher Rochele Reitlinger.

“The program is important, in general, because it promotes learning a world language in-depth — 4 or more years of studying a specific language — and shows the importance of learning about a variety of cultures,” Reitlinger said. “This makes the students more aware and prepared to thrive in a global society.”

Global Scholars is an initiative coordinated by the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. It was created in 2016 and implemented at Chartiers Valley the same year, Reitlinger said. Since then, there have been 42 global scholar graduates at Chartiers Valley.

To be a global scholar, students must take four years of the same foreign language and four credits worth of classes that have a “global” focus, such as world cultures or world literature, Reitlinger said.

They also must participate in at least four globally focused extracurricular clubs or attend cultural events, complete more than 20 hours of community service — like tutoring for foreign language classes — and must review at least eight literary, cultural works.

At Chartiers Valley, world language teachers promote the program and encourage students to pursue the distinction, Reitlinger said.

“Students who successfully complete all of the program requirements by March of their senior year are recognized with an official certificate from PSMLA, an honor cord to wear at graduation and a notation in the commencement program next to the student’s name,” Reitlinger said.

Other Pittsburgh-area school with 2025 global scholars graduates include Avonworth, Blackhawk, Connellsville, Derry Area, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Hempfield Area, Highlands, Norwin and Indiana Area, Reitlinger said.

In total, 149 students in 24 state high schools earned the distinction.