Mill Pond School Celebrates Graduation and Step Up

Springfield, MA – Mill Pond School, a therapeutic school for kids in K-12, celebrated a graduation and Step Up Ceremony.

On June 11, students, families, staff, Board members, and friends of Helix Human Services gathered at Mill Pond School’s Springfield campus to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2025–2026 school year. The special ceremony honored two graduating seniors, four students advancing to the next stage of their education, and the recipient of the prestigious Nadia Raymond Award.

The event was a celebration of growth, perseverance, resilience, and achievement. Throughout the year, these students demonstrated determination, embraced new opportunities, and continued moving forward despite challenges. Their accomplishments reflect the hard work, courage, and dedication they have shown on their educational journeys.

We were proud to recognize the following students:

Graduates

Nicholas Michalak
Kai Plowman

Step-Up Award Recipients

Dante Matta
Victor Castillo Pena
Jeremy Davis
Anna Lee

Nadia Raymond Award

Established in 2024, the Nadia Raymond Award honors the legacy of Nadia Raymond and recognizes a student who exemplifies determination, personal growth, kindness, and leadership within the school community. The award celebrates students who overcome challenges, support their peers, and serve as positive role models for others.

This year’s recipient, Victor Castillo Pena, was selected in recognition of his incredible determination, inspiring personal growth, consistent kindness, and for being a true role model to his peers. Through his actions, Victor has made a lasting impact on the Mill Pond School community and helped make our school a better place every day.

Congratulations, Victor, on this well-deserved honor.

Victor with his teachers Ms. Meaghan Labas and Ms. Nilka

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of our honorees. Their growth and resilience inspire our entire school community, and we are excited to see what they accomplish in the years ahead.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this celebration so meaningful. Together, we honored not only academic milestones, but also the strength, perseverance, and potential of every student recognized. The future is bright, and we look forward to watching these students continue to thrive.

About Mill Pond School

The Mill Pond Schools located in Springfield and Richmond, MA, are therapeutic schools serving students—kindergarten through age 22—who have social-emotional and/or behavioral challenges, a learning disability, or who may have a diagnosis of high-functioning Autism. Our goal is to assist students in developing the skills necessary to successfully return to a less-restrictive environment, and, ultimately, to their previous school setting. Read more here.