Pittsfield High Names Speakers for Graduation 2026
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School has selected Joshua Tandoh and Eilish Travis to speak at graduation this Sunday, June 14, at 4 p.m. at Tanglewood in Lenox.
Tandoh and Travis will represent the voice of this year’s senior class, who have worked diligently through their four years. In addition, Student Government President Ellen Klepetar, will also provide remarks and student Harolyn Castillo will emcee the event.
Pittsfield High School recognizes students who have achieved the top 10 cumulative grade-point averages in the senior class. The 2026 Top Ten, in alphabetical order, are Anisa E. Abdallah, Isla Kirchner, Jacob Micah Klein, Ellen Klepetar, Sophia Ann Lamalfa, Esha Shah, Oliver Smith, Reagan Supple, Effie Harper Wax, and David Wildgoose.
Academic departments also give awards to honor the most outstanding students in their respective disciplines.
The following are this year's outstanding students: Art: Nicolas Roderiguez Arenas; Band: Sophia LaMalfa; Jazz Band: James Smith; Finance & Digital Communications: Isabella Scalise; Computer: Evan Webster; Drama: Sam Contini; English: Ellen Klepetar (Edward J. McKenna Award); Mathematics: Koby Cross; Multilingual: Spozhmai Mangal; Orchestra: Miguel Henao Calle; Physical Education: Nicolina Paredes; Science: Joseph Kearns (John P. Leahy Memorial Award); Social Studies: Matthew Egan; Unified Sports: Ethan Smith; Vocal: Amari McLaughlin; World Languages: Oliver Smith.
The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes graduates who speak, read, listen, and write proficiently in another language in addition to English with a seal on their high school diploma. The Seal of Biliteracy movement has the goal of promoting long-term foreign, native, and heritage language study, documenting achievement in biliteracy, and producing a biliterate, multicultural workforce.
Pittsfield High School is proud to be one of the first schools in Berkshire County to recognize our seniors for this achievement. Those who received this seal are in the Spanish Language category: David Bernal, Andres Sebastian Moreno, Eduardo Mottos (with distinction), Daniel Rodriguez Figueroa, Esha Shah, Eilish Travis, Sebastian Valdivieso, and Michael Vegas Corcino.
This year, Pittsfield High School continued to offer courses for Innovation Career Pathway graduates. The following students have successfully completed a course schedule in their chosen pathway: Performing Arts Pathway: James Wheldon Smith-Music; and Finance and Digital Communications Pathway: Isabella Scalise and Cassandra Koomson.
The AP Seminar and Research Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of three or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research and four additional AP Exams. Anisa E. Abdallah, Ellen Barth Klepetar, Ariel Weiner, and David Wildgoose successfully completed the diploma in their Junior year.
Isla Kirchner has successfully completed the AP Seminar and Research Certificate for earning scores of three or better on both exams. This year, multiple candidates for this certificate have pending scores from tests taken in the spring.
Tando, Klepetar and Travis wrote their own biographies, which are posted below:
My name is Joshua Tandoh and I am a senior who is passionate about healthcare, leadership, and making a positive impact in my community. After graduation, I plan to attend Howard University and pursue a pre-med track with the goal of becoming a radiologist. I am more than excited to combine his interest in science, technology, and patient care in a future medical career.
Outside of school, I love listening to music, participating in community service, modeling, and taking photographs for his cousin's clothing brand. I value creativity so try I to find ways to express myself while supporting the people around me.
One of my proudest accomplishments has been serving as a leader in Advancing Minds of Color, where I've had the opportunity to help organize discussions, support my peers, and participate in community activism. Through this experience, I have learned the importance of advocacy, leadership, and using his voice to create meaningful change.
Ellen Klepetar will be joining the Williams College class of 2030 next fall. At PHS, she served as student government president, Proteus Theatre Club president, and a member of the National Honor Society chapter. She was involved in a total of 12 theater productions — acting, and designing and operating the lights. She is also a graduate of the 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program, and served on the programs steering committee.
On top of attending PHS and taking a total of 13 AP classes, Ellen has taken two classes at Williams College, one class at Berkshire Community College, and one class at Harvard as a part of the Harvard Secondary School Program. Ellen doesn't know what she plans to major in, but she knows she wants to study abroad at Oxford, and she hopes to focus on human biology and human behavior.
Hi my name is Eilish Travis, I love running so I participated in varsity cross country all four years of high school and varsity track for three. After high school I plan on majoring in environmental engineering at Union College.
I received my Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish junior year and I've been in the NHS for the two years offered.
Tags: graduation 2026, PHS, val & sal,
