Seal of Bilaterally recipients

37 juniors and seniors have earned the Seal of Biliteracy

Holyoke Public Schools

May 15, 2025

The number of HPS students who earned a Seal of Biliteracy continues to rise. Currently, 37 juniors and seniors have earned the Seal of Biliteracy, bringing the total number of current and former HPS students who have earned this distinction to 95.

For the second year in a row, juniors and seniors from both the North and Dean campuses earned a Seal of Biliteracy in English and Spanish, while HHS North senior Jonathan Muisha this year earned the seal for his mastery of English and Swahili. HHS North senior Jeymishel Rodriguez Colon earned his seal with distinction, a reflection of his high achievement.

All 25 honorees were celebrated on Saturday, May 10 during the Western Massachusetts Biliteracy Award Celebration at Umass Amherst, joined by their families and members of the HPS community.

“At a time when language is too often seen as a barrier, you have shown us it is a bridge,” said HPS Multilingual Education Director Jennifer Albury to students during the celebration. “A bridge between cultures, between generations, between communities. You have embraced the hard work of reading, writing, speaking, and thinking in two or more languages. You have proven what research confirms: bilingualism strengthens the brain—but even more importantly, it deepens our humanity.”

The Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy was established in November 2017 to recognize high school students who are proficient in English and one or more other languages. This seal is considered a statement of accomplishment and indication of a student’s readiness for career and college.

This year’s honorees from the class of 2025 include:

  • Alex Cabrera, HHS North

  • Marialis Camacho, HHS North

  • Eduardo Cardenas, HHS Dean

  • Xander Cruz, HHS North

  • Jasmine Diaz, HHS North

  • Nayeli Diaz Andrades, HHS North

  • Solmarie Gomez, HHS Dean

  • Gadiel Gonzalez Cruz, HHS Dean

  • Javier Maldonado Rivera, HHS North

  • Jonathan Muisha, HHS North, in Swahili

  • Gabriel Nieves, HHS North

  • Gedeon Ortiz-Torres, HHS North

  • Raysha Rivera Lopez, HHS North

  • Christopher Rodriguez Rodriguez, HHS North

  • Jeymishel Rodriguez Colon, HHS North, with distinction

This year’s honorees from the class of 2026 include:

  • Jadiel Abreu Molina, HHS North

  • Jasiel Abreu Molina, HHS North

  • Franchesly Almonte, HHS North

  • Kricia Alvarez Rosa, HHS Dean

  • Paola Berrios Martinez, HHS Dean

  • Vicssel Colon, HHS North

  • Genesis Lopez Green, HHS Dean

  • Eimy Ortiz Narvaez, HHS North

  • Judeilly Polanco, HHS North

Additionally, members of the class of 2025 who earned the seal last year as juniors include:

  • Maria Burgos-Bernier, HHS North

  • Gidalzy Camacho-Abreu, HHS Dean

  • Jaden Diaz, HHS North

  • Kayshaly Garcia, HHS North

  • Jayleen Guzman, HHS North

  • Arturo Hernandez Hernandez, HHS North

  • Joshua Matta Baez, HHS North

  • Kenneth Morales Torres, HHS North

  • Marjorie Pagan, HHS Dean

  • Mohab Ramadan, HHS North, in Arabic

  • Leyska Rodriguez Melendez, HHS North

  • Pedro Rosario, HHS North, with distinction

  • Gladys Sanchez Pabon, HHS North