Finalists in each category will be selected by the You Are the Light Planning Committee and recognized again at our 2025-2026 Convocation Celebration! Our Learning Community will have the opportunity to vote on these finalists at the annual Back to School Bash on August 13, 2025!
The 2025 annual You Are the Light Celebration was held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Miller Symphony Hall, and guests were entertained with performances from Louis E. Dieruff High School Latin band, Sheridan Elementary School Choir, and the William Allen High School Dance Academy!
At this celebration, we also recognized teachers and staff who have served our district for more than 25 years, and our retirees!
The following honorees were recognized:
Early College Graduates:
Camden Alford – William Allen High School
Delisse Alvarado – William Allen High School
Justin Arias – Building 21 High School
Kimberly Arias – Building 21 High School
Kimberly Avendano – William Allen High School
Kenny Baptiste – William Allen High School
Jasmine Beck – Building 21 High School
Leeah Boose – William Allen High School
Dezmariyah Brown – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Rismerry Castillo – William Allen High School
Jayda'Lee Cruz – William Allen High School
Dominick Dech – William Allen High School
Michael Deleon – Building 21 High School
Makiyah Elder – William Allen High School
Franklin Encarnacion – William Allen High School
Sofia Ernst – William Allen High School
Lejaniel Estrella – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Orlando Forniel – William Allen High School
Daralice Ganiko – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Durell Holden – William Allen High School
Jazinee Johnson – Building 21 High School
Marcus Lewis – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Kaley Martin – William Allen High School
Anabelle McDonald – William Allen High School
Karla Medina – William Allen High School
Adyeri Medina – Building 21 High School
Angelina Mejia Lebron – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Miray Metri – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Laura Mogena Aquino – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Caleesta Morgan – William Allen High School
Darci Narvaez – William Allen High School
Cathy Nguyen – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Nayeli Nunez – William Allen High School
Ciana Odessey – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Asatira Patterson – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Andrew Perez – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Michelle Perreaux – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Krystian Posluszny – William Allen High School
Vanessa Rodriguez – William Allen High School
Chevelle Schaeffer – William Allen High School
Theodore Solomon – Building 21 High School
Alexis Torres – Building 21 High School
Anissa Torres – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Dashly Torres – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Jacob Williams – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Jade Wilson – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Kemanhi Wimberly – William Allen High School
Seal of Biliteracy:
Josmary Bautista – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Mayerly Blanco Vallejo – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Denisse Cruz Abad – William Allen High School
Jacky Elderbali – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Esmeralda Estrella – William Allen High School
Stefhany Garcia Munoz – William Allen High School
Dioneycis Hernandez – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Yeisse Jiminez – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Jennifer Luna Almonte – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Karla Medina – William Allen High School
Yabdiely Mestre Bonilla – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Valeria Nunez Fuentes – William Allen High School
Alba Nunez Fuentes – William Allen High School
Isaury Olivares Santos – Building 21 High School
Gustavo Pagan Maldonado – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Yarleni Perez Alvarez – William Allen High School
Wenly Rodriguez Hiraldo – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Lurielis Sanchez Ruiz – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Superintendent’s Reading League
Elementary Student Winners
3rd place, Jariel Albino – Ritter Elementary School
2nd place, Paula Colon – Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School
1st place, Jayden Guzman Nunez – Jefferson Elementary School
Secondary Student Winners
3rd place, Jexuan Acevedo – South Mountain Middle School
2nd place, Gabriela Espinal! – Harrison-Morton Middle School
1st place, Meeloudjy Ramolien! – Raub Middle School
Staff members
Jamie Rhoads – Jefferson Elementary School
Dereck Calzado Rosari – Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays Elementary School
Hampton University Graduates
Deanna Melendez Smith – Associate's Degree
Michelle Soto – Bachelor's Degree
From the script: PPL was recognized as a Platinum Pinnacle Partner of the District, providing extensive support that aligns directly with the priorities outlined in our strategic plan, "Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030".
PPL's contributions to the Allentown School District address several of our strategic priorities, including “Academic Excellence,” “Empowering Families: Strengthening Partnerships,” and “Creating Pathways for Tomorrow.”
You are the Light of the Year
Marianny Baez Placencia – Trexler Middle School
Schidary Bonilla Gomez – South Mountain Middle School
Charles Bond – Raub Middle School
Gael Carvajal – Sheridan Elementary School
Joshua Colon-Hernandez – Harrison Morton Middle School
Sa'Mayah Cordero Williams – Jefferson Elementary School
Violet & Oliva DeJesus – Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center
Adrianna Dundore – Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School
Susan Heil – Brigadier General Ann Hays Elementary School
Anu Jemegbe – Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
Akeelyah Hewitt – William Penn Alternative School
Ashly Jimenez-Rodriguez – Central Elementary STREAM Academy
Yeisse Jimenez – Louise E. Dieruff High School
Amileni Liranzo – Building 21 High School
Aiden Martin – Ritter Elementary School
Elian Morrel – Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
Alba and Valeria Nunez Fuentes – William Allen High School
Sophia Pineda – Ramos Elementary School
Yesenia Ramirez Agustin – Newcomer Program - William Allen High School
Nazareth Rivera Goche – Mosser Elementary School
Ivana Sanchez Nunez – Roosevelt Elementary School
Jayden Sanjurjo – Union Terrace Elementary School
Kaison Smith – Jackson Early Childhood Center
Yaziel Torres – Washington Elementary School
Alexandria Torrales – Virtual Campus
Kamila Zapata – Muhlenberg Elementary School
Support Staff of the Year:
Joann Beaber – Cafeteria Assistant Cook – Sheridan Elementary School
Kristin Brenner – Behavior Specialist – Jefferson Elementary School
Itzia Boulogne – Safety Officer - Louise E. Dieruff High School
Larua Bowman – Cafeteria Manager - Food Service
Yasainee Burton – Communities In Schools - Roosevelt Elementary School
Darilis Castro – Building Substitute – Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center
Yaqueline De Los Santos – Paraprofessional – Union Terrace Elementary School
Andrea Febles – Autistic Support Paraprofessional – Jackson Early Childhood Center
Shameka Gatling – Safety Officer – Raub Middle School
Leslie Gonzalez – Administrative Assistant – Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
Shantell Grant – Paraprofessional – William Penn Alternative School
Chanae Hatcher – Paraprofessional – Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School
Viviana Herrera – Kindergarten Paraprofessional – Muhlenberg Elementary School
Iliana Landivar – Secretary/Administrative Assistant – Virtual Campus
Maria Matos – Custodian – South Mountain Middle School
Yahaira Mendez – Health Room Assistant – Washington Elementary School
Jacqueline Ortiz – Secretary – William Allen High School
Edwin Otero – Safety Officer - Harrison-Morton Middle School
Carolina Reyes – Autistic Support Para – Mosser Elementary School
Jassenia Rowe – Health Room Assistant – Ramos Elementary School
Al Shook – Facilities Department
Michelle Soto – Administrative Assistant – Building 21 High School
Melody Terrero Castellano – Paraprofessional – Ritter Elementary School
Stephanie Vargas – Paraprofessional – Brigadier General Anna May Hays Elementary School
Rebecca Vargas – Paraprofessional – Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
Sheila Velez – PreK Paraprofessional – Central Elementary STREAM Academy
John "Avery" Wright – Safety Officer – Trexler Middle School
Teacher of the Year:
Eva Bednarczyk – English Teacher – William Allen High School
Alicen Bailey-Silfies – Home School Visitor – Jackson Early Childhood Center
Brittny Buonanno – Dean of Students – Harrison-Morton Middle School
Brooke Butler – Behavior Specialist – Washington Elementary School
Melanie Christopher – ELD Teacher at Louis E. Dieruff High School – Office of ELS
Kimberly Craig – 4th Grade Teacher - Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
Michelle Deutsch – Teacher – Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School
Betty Dodson – Life Skills Teacher – Mosser Elementary School
Kathie Earley – Kindergarten Teacher – brigadier General Anna Mae Hays Elementary School
Cindy Ilgenfritz – School Psychologist – Sheridan Elementary School
Alisha Keiser – Math Teacher – William Penn Alternative School
Allison Kemmerer – Teacher – Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center
Paula Lapp – ELD Teacher – Ramos Elementary School
Caitlin McEnroe – ELD/Newcomer Program Teacher at SMMS – Newcomer Program- SMMS
Maisie McGowan – 5th Grade Teacher – Muhlenberg Elementary School
Gerardine Muñoz – PreK Teacher – Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
Lori Miller – Dean of Students, Louis E. Dieruff High School
Jason Nguyen – Trexler Middle School
Nicole Razar – Intervention Specialist – Union Terrace Elementary School
Brandy Rentko – Teacher – Raub Middle School
Dr Melissa Routson – Math teacher - Building 21 High School
Ben Snyder – Psychologist – South Mountain Middle School
Melissa Snyder – Learning Support Teacher - Roosevelt Elementary School
Dawn Trumbauer – Teacher - Virtual Campus
Pati Williams – Teacher - Grade K – Ritter Elementary School
Deirdra Zielinski – ESOL Teacher – Jefferson Elementary School
New Teacher of the Year
Ryan Blough – Louis E. Dieruff High School
Sahaira Martinez – Building 21 High School
Mary Powell – Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
Administrator of the Year:
Jennifer Aponte – Principal, Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
Corey Cowen – Assistant Principal, Raub Middle School
Ryan Creange – Assistant Principal, Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School
Daria Custer – Principal, Jefferson Elementary School
Kenneth Fritz – Principal, South Mountain Middle School
Gina Giarratana – Director of Child Nutrition Services
Braidyn Womer – Assistant Principal, Building 21 High School