A student walks across the stage during the Celebration of Success alongside an adult.

Students, families, caregivers, and WPS school and district staff came together on Thursday, April 9 for the Special Education Department’s annual Celebration of Success at Worcester Technical High School.

This event recognized students from across the city of Worcester in preschool, elementary, middle, and high school, as well as the WPS Transition Program, for their growth, perseverance, and achievements during the 2025–26 school year.

Staff in the Special Education Department were also recognized for the meaningful impact they make in supporting students across the district.

The names of the students and staff awarded with Certificates of Recognition at the 2025-26 Celebration of Success can be found below. Please note if a parent or guardian has opted out of media consent for their child, their child's name will not be included in the lists below.

A young student gives a peace sign while holding up a certificate of recognition.A family of three stand together for a photo.

A student smiles while accepting a certificate of recognition.

A large group of WPS staff members stand on stage to be recognized.

A student and teacher smile together for a photo.A family of four stand together outside for a photo.

A student walks across the stage during the Celebration of Success while patrons sit in the auditorium seats.



Student Recognition Certificate Recipients:

Preschool:

  • Ethan Doan, Francis J. McGrath Elementary School


Kindergarten:

  • Naximus Febles, Grafton Street School

  • Lorenzo Fernandez, Norrback Avenue School

  • Willa Hayes, Gates Lane School

  • Ellie Rodriguez Lopez, Norrback Avenue School

  • Joeliz Rodriguez, Gates Lane School


First Grade:

  • Guilherme Brandao De Matos Badilho, Roosevelt School

  • Caris Dowuona, Jacob Hiatt Magnet School

  • Emberly Flores, Norrback Avenue School

  • Ian Gonzalez Semeco, Norrback Avenue School

  • Allison Hernandez Barcenes, Union Hill School

  • Alivia Kneeland, Quinsigamond School

  • Pietro Marcolino Barbosa, Norrback Avenue School

  • Leonardo Mercadante, City View Discovery School

  • Jordanliany Pizaro, Woodland Academy

  • Ruby Rosario, Grafton Street School


Second Grade:

  • Daniel Anziani, Grafton Street School

  • Jonathan Atiswini, Rice Square School

  • Sam Daigneault, Norrback Avenue School

  • Daisy Finch, Lincoln Street School

  • Nathan Gardner, Belmont Street Community School

  • Loubermanno Louis, Goddard School of Science

  • Rhanialee Maldonado Santiago, Norrback Avenue School

  • Liana Padavano, Roosevelt School

  • Ezequiel Saavedra Rivas, Quinsigamond School

  • Nedwin Rivera Velazquez, Nelson Place School


Third Grade:

  • Bisharo Ali, Clark Street Community School

  • Nathaniel Diaz, Norrback Avenue School

  • Onyx Flores, Grafton Street School

  • Nicolas Fontes, Jacob Hiatt Magnet School

  • Mateo Gjata, Nelson Place School

  • Jolene Lopez, Union Hill School

  • Oakley Weihn-Quinlivan, Burncoat Street Preparatory School

  • Osias Rosario, Grafton Street School

  • Carter Safo-Agyeman, Worcester Arts Magnet School

  • Joshua Santana Echeverria, Burncoat Street Preparatory School


Fourth Grade:

  • Amelia Carter, City View Discovery School

  • Alice De Souza Andrade, Worcester Arts Magnet School

  • Brian Diaz, Gates Lane School

  • J-Leah Diaz, Grafton Street School

  • Roseline Diaz, Thorndyke Road School

  • Urielys Figueroa, Quinsigamond School

  • Ana Garcia Diaz, Canterbury Street Magnet School

  • Jordan Hallaman, Norrback Avenue School

  • Sophia Hernandez Batista, Lincoln Street School

  • Melanie Jimenez, West Tatnuck School

  • Luciana Landaverde Marroquin, West Tatnuck School

  • Emily Morocho Pule, Elm Park Community School

  • Omar Negron, Elm Park Community School

  • Isabella Nieves, Jacob Hiatt Magnet School

  • Jamiel Rodriguez, Chandler Elementary Community School

  • Ethan Salgado, Gates Lane School

  • Lena Sheard, Gates Lane School

  • Brendon Da Silva Rabelo, Midland Street School

  • Cole Stewart, Grafton Street School

  • Chloe Tuggle, Worcester Arts Magnet School

  • Geovanna Vale Silva, Norrback Avenue School


Fifth Grade:

  • Nahulelia Anglade, Woodland Academy

  • Secret Ben, Grafton Street School

  • Isla Brazile, Flagg Street School

  • Nyasia Brown, Wawecus Road School

  • Saryeliz Cruz Diaz, Elm Park Community School

  • Heloa De Souza Hipolito, Roosevelt School

  • Sofia Escobar Aragon, Woodland Academy

  • Mya Evans, Tatnuck Magnet School

  • Ethan Hidalgo, Norrback Avenue School

  • Edward Jackson, Academic Center for Transition

  • Namir Jacob, Worcester Arts Magnet School

  • Manasseh Jubin, Tatnuck Magnet School

  • Joash Kapel, Elm Park Community School

  • Elijah Mahoney, Norrback Avenue School

  • Leyni C. Veliz Vasquez, Heard Street Discovery Academy

  • Widned Velazquez, Clark Street Community School

  • Jonathan Vilma, Rice Square School


Sixth Grade:

  • Javian Barcenes, Tatnuck Magnet School

  • Terrence (TJ) Berry, Vernon Hill School

  • Kaelynn Brown, Francis J. McGrath Elementary School

  • Javier (Jose) Cartagena, Goddard School of Science

  • Yanelis Cruz, Norrback Avenue School

  • Ester Da Costa Gomes, Grafton Street School

  • Jazmine Edwards, Grafton Street School

  • Zoey Goudge, May Street School

  • Joseph Gutierrez-Crowley, Worcester Dual Language Magnet School

  • Wyatt Henderson, Wawecus Road School

  • Alexis Jolly, Norrback Avenue School

  • Lucy Kazukiewicz, Norrback Avenue School

  • Emanuelly Macedo Oliviera, Francis J. McGrath Elementary School

  • Kaylee Martinez, Norrback Avenue School

  • James Medeiros, Lake View School

  • Angel Miller Feliz, Thorndyke Road School

  • Romeo Munoz-Castro, Columbus Park Preparatory School

  • Ruthie Rock, Quinsigamond School

  • Justice Shavies, May Street School

  • Subash Sherpa, Nelson Place School

  • Angel Valentin, Norrback Avenue School


Seventh Grade:

  • Alex Calderon, University Park Campus School

  • Evalease Legro, Worcester East Middle School

  • Malechi Mobray, Worcester East Middle School


Eighth Grade:

  • Jeremiah Carey, Forest Grove Middle School

  • Christopher Grant, Worcester East Middle School

  • Shugri Hassan, Burncoat Middle School

  • Vedad Memic, Forest Grove Middle School

  • Yeriel Hernandez-Suren, Worcester East Middle School

  • Nicolas Romerio De Oliveira, Forest Grove Middle School

  • Johniel Sanchez-Natal, Worcester East Middle School


Ninth Grade:

  • Harmony Delorge, South High Community School


10th Grade:

  • Miqueias De Souza, Worcester Technical High School


11th Grade:

  • Christian Adjei, Worcester Technical High School

  • Elana Benson, Worcester Technical High School

  • Carlos Pimental Benitez, Burncoat High School


12th Grade:

  • Luis A. Cotto, Worcester Alternative School

  • Antwon Frye, South High Community School

  • Zoe Hill, Burncoat High School

  • Angel Macario, Claremont Academy

  • Jamian Santos, Doherty Memorial High School

  • Gia Toney, University Park Campus School


Transition Program:

  • Natalie Arroyo

  • Media Nyirabasista


Staff Recognition Certificate Recipients:

  • Besiana Abazaj

  • Tanya Barron

  • Sarah Beinar

  • Allyssa Boykin

  • Kate Brichkova

  • Kristyn Buzzell

  • Julia Caron

  • Mary Casey

  • Hayley Cimochowski

  • Barbara Creelman

  • Maria Cruz

  • Bobbie-Jo Dansereau

  • Jody Davini

  • Kirsten Day

  • Laura Demichele

  • Cathy Desautels

  • Kim Drozd

  • Katie Duncan

  • Noreen Erickson

  • Alexa Fearing

  • Chelsey Fernandes

  • Debra Friend

  • Davin Forsberg

  • Amy Gay

  • Sandra Healy

  • Kristina Howard

  • Christopher Howse

  • Robin Ingman

  • Liz Ledeboer

  • Allyssa Masiello

  • Kristen Melanson

  • Joanne Miller

  • Michael Morasse

  • Arlene Parsons

  • Katie Pauloz

  • Lori Piazzo

  • Anne Power

  • Lynn Reed

  • Lawrence Rivers

  • Veronica Sagal

  • Zoe Smith

  • Melissa Stomski

  • Brittany Vail

  • Dennis Vanasse

  • Nessa Warrington

  • Erin Wilkin

  • Maria Wilkinson

  • Patricia Yacuzzi

  • Colleen Yosca

  • Ledja Zeneli