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.
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