Muy bueno, Wilbraham & Monson Academy! Muy bueno!

Four students earned the highest status possible on the 2026 National Spanish Exam. Lily Meier ’26, Gabe Hall ’26, Andrew Chang ’28 and Faith Agboola ’28 received gold medals, meaning they scored in the top 95 percent.

Of the 82,000 students who took the 2026 exam, only six percent accomplished gold medal status.

“Our students performed exceptionally well on this year's National Spanish Exam, and the results truly reflect their dedication and hard work throughout the school year,” explained Spanish teacher Maridol Linares. “Across all levels, our classes earned a variety of awards, including an impressive four gold medals. This success did not happen by chance. Students consistently prepared in all four key language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. 

“In addition, they engaged deeply with cultural content, exploring and connecting language with real-world topics. I could not be prouder of these results.”

In all, 46 WMA students earned recognition based on their results on this year’s NSE. Below are comments from the four gold medal winners, as well as a list of all students who received recognition.

Lily, Spanish 5: “My favorite thing about learning Spanish is that it has given me the opportunity to become immersed in Hispanic culture and traditions, as well as connect with a diverse and welcoming community on a deeper level. Additionally, my Spanish education has challenged me both academically and personally, as it has forced me to go outside my comfort zone to develop my speaking and interpersonal skills. This language has left a profound impact on me and I am so grateful for the social and cultural connections it has allowed me to make.”

Gabe, Spanish 5: “Ms. Linares has been my Spanish teacher for all four years. There's truly no one like her. She's had such an impact on my ability to learn the Spanish language, so much so that I am going on to major in Spanish next year in college. She doesn't just teach how to learn Spanish, she teaches in Spanish. There is a large difference between the two. I believe being as immersed as possible in a language is the best way to learn it, and she creates an environment in the classroom that accomplishes just that.”

Andrew, Spanish 4: “Winning a gold medal this year in the NSE is a very rewarding achievement that reflects my growth. Throughout the school year, I have felt like my Spanish has improved a lot, and a big part of that is due to Profe. Linares’s teaching and guidance. She has been my Spanish teacher for so long now, and I am thankful for all that she has taught me.”

Faith, Spanish 3: “What I love most about Spanish is the vast number of cultures it opens me up to. Through Spanish, I am able to communicate with people from over 20 countries (as well as) their distinct foods, music and traditions. Especially because of the large Hispanic population in my town, Springfield, knowing Spanish has given me the opportunity to better appreciate diverse cultures and connect with people in my community.”

Award winners

Spanish 1 - Honorable Mention: Trey Dillahunt ’29, Devin White ’28, Viv Poirier ’29, Savino Caracciolo ’29, Paul Jeong ’29; Bronze: Madelyn Fandrey ’29

Spanish 2 - Honorable Mention: Ryan Letendre ’28, Madison Stephenson ’29, Jayden Ahn ’28, Zhexin Li ’27, Sabina Zwyrbla ’29; Bronze: Will Meier ’29, Yejun Lee ’27, Jessie Wang ’29, Jayden Arora ’29, Lillian Bonner ’28; Silver Medal: Kendall Wyche ’28, Emily Kolodziej ’29

Spanish 3 - Honorable Mention: Neela Hopkins ’29, Nia Johnson ’28, Mya Shonak ’28, Seoyeon Bae ’28, Natalie Blais ’27, Marina Hall ’28, Sanyu Nsibirwa ’28; Bronze Medal: Sarah Laporte ’28, Braden Lora ’29, Anson Yip ’27, Charlotte Young ’27; Silver Medal: Giorgio Kober ’27, Rosalie Machowski ’29, Olivia Macklin ’29; Gold: Faith Agboola ’28

Spanish 4 - Honorable Mention: Gabriella Ravosa ’28, Kinsley Vandenburg ’28, Lucas Mastrodomenico ’27; Bronze: Cyril Chan ’28, Nathan Presz ’27; Silver: Nikos Kratimenos ’28, Daniel Pierce ’29; Gold: Andrew Chang ’28

Spanish 5 - Bronze: Brady Chisholm ’27, JP Ramesh ’26; Silver: Sara Di Pangrazio ’27; Gold: Lily Meier ’26, Gabe Hall ’26