Students and faculty at the award ceremony for the Seal of Biliteracy

26 students from Dean and North campuses earn Seal of Biliteracy

Holyoke Public Schools

May 13, 2024

The number of HPS students who earned a Seal of Biliteracy more than tripled this year, from eight students earning this distinction in 2023 to a total of 26 students in 2024. 

Like last year, three students this year were awarded Seals of Biliteracy with Distinction for their high achievements. But for the first time, high school juniors at both the HHS Dean and North campus earned the seal. In prior years, only high school seniors achieved it. In addition, two students this year earned the seal for a language other than Spanish: Mohab Ramadan earned the Seal of Biliteracy in English and Arabic, while Karlyce Varela Do Rosario earned the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in English and Portuguese.

All 26 Seal of Biliteracy recipients were honored on Saturday, May 11 during the Western Massachusetts Biliteracy Awards Celebration at UMass Amherst.

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 recipients from HPS include:

  • Arlyanice Anaya De Leon, North Grade 12 (Spanish)—with distinction

  • Andres Bravo Marcano, Dean Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Maria Burgos-Bernier, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Gidalzy Camacho-Abreu, Dean Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Aliesh Cotto Torres, North, Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Jose Del Valle Castro, Dean Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Jaden Diaz, North, Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Kayshaly Garcia, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Jayleen Guzman, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Arturo Hernandez Hernandez, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Alexis Jimenez Rosario, North Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Joshua Matta Baez, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Abdiel Mojica Sanchez, Dean Grade 12 (Spanish)—with distinction

  • Kenneth Morales Torres, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Marjorie Pagan, Dean Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Mohab Ramadan, North, Grade 11 (Arabic)

  • Tatiana Restrepo, North, Grade 12 (Spanish) 

  • Diaraliz Rivera, North Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Yarimar Rivera Rivera, North Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Leyska Rodriguez Melendez, North Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Maria Zaya Rosario, North, Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Pedro Rosario, North, Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Gladys Sanchez Pabon, North, Grade 11 (Spanish)

  • Mariangeliz Santiago, North Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Angel Serrano Cruz, North, Grade 12 (Spanish)

  • Karlyce Varela Do Rosario, North, Grade 12 (Portuguese)—with distinction