Sebastian Oliveros named November Patriot Bank Student of the Month

Congratulations to Sebastian Oliveros for being named the Patriot Bank Student of the Month for November! Sebastian was selected by the Arlington High School World Languages Department for exemplifying the tenants of the Portrait of an ACS Graduate, which includes Communicate Effectively, Collaborate Intentionally, Cultivate Creativity, Be Resilient and Lead with Empathy. Here's what one of Sebastian's teachers had to say about him:

Sebastian has distinguished himself as one of the most remarkable students I've worked with in 25 years. He leads as president of the National French Honor Society and the French Club, is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, competes on the AHS varsity soccer team, holds a black belt in karate, works a paying job and volunteers at church, school and his community center.

Three qualities set Sebastian apart beyond his accomplishments: his linguistic prowess, his intrinsic drive for self-growth and his empathy for others. His passion for languages is exceptional. Within two and a half years of studying French, he earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy in French and English, scoring Advanced Mid in reading and Intermediate High in writing, listening and speaking — a level typically reached only after four years of study. He achieved this in his second and third languages, as Spanish is his native language.

Sebastian’s motivation comes from a true desire to learn. He often says, “I don’t care about my score on the AP French exam. I know you do, but I just want to learn French.” After earning functional proficiency on the Global Seal, he set a personal goal to test again to reach working proficiency, a challenge I'm confident he will meet.

He is also humble and empathetic. As an immigrant at age seven, he understands struggle and the value of support. He consistently helps classmates with patience and kindness, whether partnering with a peer who often grew frustrated or giving up his own time between classes to quiz another student on calculus formulas.

Sebastian is a student who has left an indelible mark on my heart, and I'm certain his perseverance, resilience, adaptability and determination to leave a lasting impression will enable him to soar to the highest heights.

The Patriot Bank Student of the Month program recognizes one student in the months of September - April. One of those eight students will then be selected for a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Patriot Bank.