Westford, MA — Nashoba Technical High School proudly announces that graduating seniors Chahd Benlachen, Maria Resende, and Lorrainy Rodrigues have earned the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy, distinguished certifications awarded to students who demonstrate high proficiency in English and at least one additional language. This is done through testing.
Benlachen accomplished this in Darija (Moroccan Arabic), while Rodrigues and Resende each earned these certifications in Spanish and Portuguese. Their accomplishments reflect both academic dedication and a deep commitment to multilingual communication.
Maria Resende is a native speaker of Portuguese as she was born in Brazil and lived there through elementary school. She was able to grow her language skills by taking Spanish classes at Nashoba Tech. Maria is a student in the Dual Enrollment program and this June, will graduate from Nashoba Tech and also Middlesex Community College with an Associate's Degree in communications. She will attend UMass Amherst in the fall.
Chahd Benlachen learned Darija at home as her parents are from Morocco. She is a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. She will graduate with an Associates Degree from Middlesex Community College at graduation as she participates in the Dual Enrollment Program. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she will major in Animal Science on a pre-veterinary track. She wants to become a large animal veterinarian.
Lorrainy Rodrigues grew up bilingual and speaking multiple languages has helped her in both her daily life and at work by making communication easier and helping her feel more confident around others. She says that, “being bilingual has become such a natural part of who I am, and it has helped shape my identity and the way I connect with the world”. Lorrainy will study Industrial Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. She is graduating from the engineering program at Nashoba Tech.
The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to students who meet rigorous criteria in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English and a partner language (or more than one partner language). This certification signals to colleges, employers, and community partners that recipients are equipped with critical language skills and cultural competencies.
For these students, earning the Seal not only celebrates their linguistic abilities but also honors their cultural identities and lived experiences. It affirms their ability to navigate and contribute meaningfully to diverse communities. Amy St. Arnaud is the coordinator of the Seal of Biliteracy Program at Nashoba Tech. Nashoba Tech certifies qualifying students with both the MA State Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy.