White Plains High School celebrates 101 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy

White Plains High School honored 101 graduating seniors who earned the coveted New York State Seal of Biliteracy during a ceremony Thursday celebrating multilingualism, cultural heritage and academic achievement.

The event opened with remarks from Yolanda Rodriguez, Director of World Languages and Multilingual Learner Programs K-12, who praised students for their dedication to mastering multiple languages and embracing the diverse cultures that enrich the White Plains community.

Board of Education member Sheryl Brady was acknowledged during the ceremony, while Principal Emerly Martinez and White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee Chair and City Council Member Evelyn Alicea Santiago offered greetings and congratulations to the students and their families. 

Jennifer Ayub distributed medals to the recipients.

The New York State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to high school graduates who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and one or more world languages. The distinction recognizes students' linguistic skills while highlighting the value of diversity in an increasingly interconnected world.

"Today, we gather to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our seniors who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy," Ms. Rodriguez said as she emphasized that earning the seal represents years of commitment and perseverance.

"Earning this seal is no small achievement," she said.

She also recognized the important role families played in helping students reach this milestone.

"Today we also honor and celebrate the families, parents and guardians who have envisioned this day since their children were young," Ms. Rodriguez said. "These are families who recognized the importance of raising bilingual and multicultural citizens of the world. Your commitment, encouragement and sacrifices have made this moment possible, and for that, we thank you."

She noted that the students being recognized had spent years preserving their languages and cultural identities while building bridges among people from different backgrounds.

Together with the support of teachers, administrators and staff, she said, the students had dedicated their K-12 journeys to mastering additional languages, strengthening connections with family members, celebrating their heritage and helping others through their ability to communicate across cultures.

The benefits of multilingualism extend far beyond the classroom, she added.

"Their achievement opens doors to a world of opportunities — internships, careers, travel, and deeper human connections," Ms. Rodriguez said. "Yet, beyond these opportunities lies something even more powerful: the daily satisfaction of seeing the world through a broader lens and understanding it with greater depth and empathy because of their ability to speak more than one language.

"Congratulations, seniors, on this extraordinary accomplishment," she added.

All NYSSB earners will receive an official seal affixed to their diploma, a medallion to wear at graduation, and may also receive a certificate from the State Education Department.

List of students:

• Sherly Acosta — Spanish

• Sofia Andrade — Spanish

• Paul Aquino — Spanish

• Brandon Archer — French

• Sofia Camila Argote — Spanish

• Stephanie Arriaga — Italian

• Sophia Artunduaga — Spanish

• Luis Bances — Spanish

• Yasmin Barranco — Spanish

• Maximiliano Barrera — Italian

• Vanessa Barrera — Spanish

• Angela Bediako — Italian

• Lillian Benitez — Spanish

• Ashley Benitez — Spanish

• Sofia Bertini — French and Spanish

• Sabrina Bonelli — Italian

• Rebecca Braun — French

• Declan Brown — Spanish

• Helen Camacho Flores — Mandarin

• Stephany Camargo Ruiz — Spanish

• Serena Casa — Greek

• Karen Cazales Allende — Spanish

• Marabel Cedeno — Spanish and French

• Leslie Conde — Spanish

• Jasmine Confesor — Spanish

• Luis Alonso Contreras Tangoa — Spanish

• Jahir Cortes — Spanish

• Dariana Cuautle — Spanish

• Rubi De La Cruz — Spanish

• Rachel Dellis — Italian

• Justin Djelosevic — Italian

• Amy Dominguez — French

• Eryn DuBois — Spanish

• Sara Espaillat — French

• Gerrard Fernandez — Spanish

• Jonathan Ferrell — Spanish

• Daniella Melissa Garcia — Spanish

• Daystelin Garcia — Spanish

• Jessica Garcia Carrillo — Spanish

• Daniela Garcia Rodriguez — Spanish

• Svara Jayant Gawde — Hindi and Marathi

• Sarah Godoy — Spanish

• Damaris Guzman — Spanish

• Daniela Guzman — Mandarin

• Leeana Hall-Willis — ASL

• Alina Hara — Spanish

• Declan Hazen — Spanish

• Yuliana Heredia — Spanish

• Adolfo Hernandez — Spanish

• Thanne Huarez Rayme — Spanish

• Kyra Hughes — Spanish

• Miles Ingram — Spanish

• Edith Labanda — Spanish

• Delphine Larosiliere — French

• Elloise Larosiliere — French

• Tatiana Lema — Spanish

• Sophia Letizia — Italian

• Eliana Lieber — Spanish

• Gabriella Louis — French

• Alejandra Maldonado — Spanish

• Francesca Marcotullio — Italian

• Michael Mark — Spanish

• Edwar Mejia Conza — Spanish

• Danielle Mitchell — Mandarin

• Max Mui — Mandarin

• Milena Nahue — Spanish

• Vivi Nguyen — Spanish

• Fernando Orozco Reyes — Spanish

• Giselle Paredes — Spanish

• Erin Perez Martinez — Spanish

• Maeve Pochat — Spanish

• Heidy Quinde — Spanish

• Gabriel Racaniello — Spanish

• Janelly Ramirez — Spanish

• Rafael Ramirez Vivar — Spanish

• Yamay Rodriguez — Spanish

• Janie Rodriguez — Spanish

• Melanie Rodriguez — Spanish

• Angel Romero — Spanish

• Brissa Ruiz Rodriguez — Spanish

• Mary Grace Ryan — ASL

• Ashley Sanchez — Italian

• Jaqueline Sandoval — Spanish

• Wendy Santos — Spanish

• Yazmin Sarabia — Spanish

• Alessandra Del Rosario Silva — Spanish

• Valeria Sosa — Spanish

• Dorismar Soto Soto — Spanish

• Dania Tandazo — Spanish

• Jonathan Tuckman — Spanish

• Adamary Valerio Cuatzo — Spanish

• Emmanuel Vanegas Ocampo — Spanish

• Abigail Vega — Spanish

• Layla Vergaray — French

• Julia Vieira — Spanish

• Glendy Villagres Perez — Spanish

• Valeryn Villamarin Romero — Spanish

• Juliet Weigand — Italian

• Lucy Wright — Mandarin

• Julianna Zuta Castaneda — French

• Olivia Amador — Mandarin (Anticipated)