UMass Amherst Hosts Biliteracy Award Ceremony for Area High School Students
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The UMass Amherst Bilingual Hub hosted its 2026 Seal of Biliteracy Award Ceremony on Saturday, May 9 in the College of Education's Carney Auditorium. Nearly 200 students, families, educators, and community members gathered to honor the bilingual achievements of 82 high school students who have demonstrated outstanding proficiency in two or more languages.
The ceremony featured a keynote address by Regina Galasso, director of the Edwin C. Gentzler Translation Center at UMass Amherst and associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese Studies. She spoke about the power of language, translation, and multilingualism as tools for community building and social equity.
Students received their diplomas alongside recognitions for a Seal of Biliteracy or a Seal of Biliteracy Pathway Award, honoring those actively progressing toward full biliteracy. In Massachusetts, the Seal is aligned with state standards and is awarded by participating school districts to honor students' dedication to language learning and multiliteracy. Participating districts included Southbridge Public Schools, Lawrence Public Schools, Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools, Springfield Public Schools, and Agawam Public Schools.
"This ceremony is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our students and the communities that support them. Bilingualism and biliteracy are powerful assets and a civil right, for our students, for our region, and for our society. Events like this one remind us why the work of bilingual education matters so deeply." said Marialuisa Di Stefano, director of the UMass Amherst Bilingual Hub.
The 2026 Seal of Biliteracy Award Ceremony was supported by the following institutional partners: Edwin C. Gentzler Translation Center at UMass Amherst, the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies, and the College of Education.
The UMass Amherst Bilingual Hub is an initiative housed in the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The Bilingual Hub supports bilingual and dual language education across Massachusetts through professional development, community partnerships, and educator preparation programs. The Seal of Biliteracy Award Ceremony is one of several annual events organized by the Hub to celebrate and advance bilingual achievement in the region.
Featuring
Marialuisa Di Stefano
Program Coordinator, English Second Language
