Arrowhead Park Early College High School

With more than 7,100 languages spoken around the world, bilingualism opens doors to new opportunities, deeper understanding, and meaningful connections across cultures and communities. Las Cruces Public Schools is proud to celebrate the remarkable students who have dedicated years of hard work, perseverance, and passion to mastering one or more languages.

On May 7, 138 graduating seniors earned the prestigious New Mexico State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy during a joyful ceremony held at Mayfield High School. Students represented Arrowhead Park Early College High School/Arrowhead Park Medical Academy, Centennial High School, Las Cruces High School, Mayfield High School, Organ Mountain High School, and Rio Grande Preparatory Institute.

The evening was filled with pride and celebration as family members, friends, educators, and supporters packed the gymnasium to cheer on each honoree. Graduates crossed the stage to receive medals and certificates recognizing not only their academic achievement, but also their commitment to communication, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning.

Special recognition was given to recipients of the Distinguished Bilingual Seal, the Outstanding Bilingual Seal, and the Dedication, Engagement, and Excellence (DEE) Award. Every recipient was celebrated for the determination and resilience it took to achieve this milestone.

This year, eight languages were represented among recipients: Arabic, Bengali, French, Latin, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. Fifteen students received the district’s Distinguished Bilingual Seal Award and were presented with gift cards in recognition of their achievement, while two students earned seals in two separate languages.

The district’s Outstanding Bilingual Seal Award was presented to Alan Orellana-Cuellar of Centennial High School, who received a laptop in recognition of his exceptional accomplishment. The district’s Dedication, Engagement, and Excellence Award was presented to Yurem Ordoñez of Centennial High School, who also received a laptop for exemplifying commitment and excellence throughout the program.

This year’s ceremony was inspired by a quote from Nelson Mandela: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

The quote perfectly reflected the spirit of the evening, a celebration not only of language proficiency, but also of empathy, identity, and connection.

Las Cruces Public Schools extends gratitude to the Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation for sponsoring gift cards awarded to Distinguished Seal recipients, and to FirstLight Federal Credit Union for generously providing laptops to the Outstanding Seal and DEE Award recipients. Their support helped make the celebration even more meaningful for students and families.

The New Mexico State Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracy is a prestigious distinction credited to a student’s diploma and transcript upon graduation. The seal recognizes students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and at least one additional world or Native American tribal language, preparing them to thrive in college, careers, and an increasingly interconnected world.

To earn the seal, graduating seniors must meet all New Mexico Diploma of Excellence requirements and demonstrate advanced proficiency in a second language through pathways established by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Las Cruces Public Schools proudly recognizes the following students for earning the 2026 New Mexico State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy by school:

Arrowhead Park Early College High School/Arrowhead Park Medical Academy

Azul Baca-Zavala - Spanish*

Santiago Chavira Fernandez - Spanish*

Katherine Davenport - Latin†*

Andrea Figueredo - Spanish*

Charlie Fonseca-Ramirez - Spanish*

Saim Iqbal - Urdu*

Teresa Martinez - Spanish*

Esthzaly Molina - Spanish*

Alexander Rayos - Spanish*

Bianca Rojas - Spanish*

Zac Romo - Spanish*

Fiona Rossette - Bengali†*

Sarah Silva-Robles - Spanish*

Naomi Silvestre - Spanish*

Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Emma Jimenez - Spanish†*

Organ Mountain High School

Annette Guerrero Lopez - Spanish

Adrian Heredia - Spanish

Onesimo Hernandez-Arzola- Spanish*

Graciela Lira-Rios - Spanish†*

Gerardo Lopez - Spanish

Paola Martinez Rodriguez - Spanish†*

Zarah Martinez Rodriguez - Spanish*

Victor Martinez Trujillo - Spanish

Janahi Melendez - Spanish

Arely Moreno-Serrato - Spanish

Daniela Ortiz-Sanchez - Spanish

Yadelin Parra - Spanish

Luis Perez Aguero - Spanish*

Alexy Renteria - Spanish

Carlos Romero - Spanish

Ximena Ruvalcaba Esqueda - Spanish

Felipe Salmon - Spanish

Mariana Tercero - Spanish

Alejandro Torres-Valles - Spanish†

Itzzel Vazquez - Spanish

Leslie Villalba - Spanish

Diego Zamudio-Torres – Spanish

Centennial High School

Evelyn Bañuelos- Spanish*

Aurora Burciaga - Spanish*

Libna Camarena - Spanish*

Karime Castillo - Spanish*

Mariana Castillo - Spanish*

Hannah Del Villar - Spanish*

Natalia Duran - Spanish*

Dannika Escapita - Spanish*

Lina Esquivel - Spanish*

Jaziel García-Rodríguez - Spanish*

Mariana Gemoets - Spanish†*

Alexa Gomez - Spanish*

Arturo Gonzalez - Spanish*

Areli Hernandez - Spanish*

Gavin Ingol Leon - Spanish*

Axel Jacquez - Spanish*

Ryan Joukhadar - Arabic*

Jesus Loya - Spanish*

Luca Loya- Spanish*

Vania Martinez - Spanish*

Luis Gael Martinez Ordoñez - Spanish*

Joshua Mercado - Spanish*

Yaxkin Morales -Spanish*

Mayte Mucino Rodriguez - Spanish*

Yurem Ordoñez -Spanish*

Alan Orellana-Cuellar -Spanish¥†*

Izabella Ortiz -Spanish*

Jocelyn Perez - Spanish*

Laura Polo Gongora - Spanish*

Ezra Posadas - Spanish*

Diego Quintana - Spanish*

Hadassah Rocha - Spanish*

José Julian Roman Rodriguez - Spanish*

Juan Gilberto Roman Rodriguez - Spanish*

Ali Sadek - Arabic†*

Raquel Torres - Spanish*

Ekaterina Townsand - Russian*

Emily Valerio - Spanish*

Destiny Vidal - Spanish*

Organ Mountain High School

Samer Abuamoud - Arabic*

Sarahi Alvarado - Spanish

Viridiana Calderon-Olivas - Spanish*

Damian Campa - Spanish

Anahi Gomez - Spanish*

Ximena Gomez-Ochoa - Spanish*

Giselle Gonzalez - Spanish

Melanie Gonzalez - Spanish

Martha Granados-Saenz – Spanish

Mayfield High School

Ilene Imelda Lozano - Spanish

Kevin Levi Marin - Spanish*

Francisco Emilio Mejia-Saenz - Spanish*

Yajaira A. Olvera - Spanish

Iliana Ayleen Orduñez - Spanish*

Christian Eleazar Parra - Spanish

Alan Jair Portillo Luna - Spanish

Christopher Quevedo-Alvarez - Spanish*

Karen Fabiola Ramirez - Spanish

Nickole Elliana Rico - Spanish

Noah Elliot Rico - Spanish

Alan Terrazas Martinez- Spanish

Las Cruces High School

Ana Adame-Ordaz - Spanish*

Misael Aguilar Aguirre - Spanish*

Jorge Alvarado Gardea - Spanish*

Joaquin Arzabala - Spanish*

Romina Avila - Spanish*

Angela Bahena Villa - Spanish*

Santiago Barraza - Spanish*

Samantha Brasher - French†

Samantha Brasher - Mandarin†*

Joel Calderon - Spanish*

Jasim Carrillo-Soto - Spanish*

Karla Naomi Castillo Quezada - Spanish*

Mario Castro - Spanish*

Jimena Gomez - Spanish*

Joselyn Gonzalez-Bermudez - Spanish*

Grety Guzman Ramirez- Spanish*

Avril Hernandez - Spanish*

Jailyne Hernandez - Spanish*

Angel Jaquez - Spanish*

Persuation Lopez -French

Camila Marinelli - Spanish*

Tania Martinez -Spanish*

Allyson Mena - Spanish*

Betsabet Nava -Spanish†*

Alexia Ortega - French

Alexia Ortega - Spanish*

Samuel Perez Montenegro - Spanish*

Sarai Ramirez - Spanish*

Dianeth Rivera - Spanish*

Georgina Salgado Villa - Spanish†*

Dania Sanchez Rodriguez - Spanish*

Oliver Settles - French

Rocio Villa - Spanish*

Mayfield High School

Kevin Aguero-Ceballos - Spanish

Analy Armenta - Spanish†*

José Luis Castillo - Spanish

Ashley Chavez - Spanish

Emilio Esparza - Spanish*

Marianna Hernandez - Spanish*

Juan Miguel Hondal-Espinoza - Spanish

Heriberto Leaños – Spanish

Award Key:

† Indicates Distinguished Seal Recipient

¥ Indicates Outstanding Seal Recipient

* Indicates Global Seal Recipient

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