Posthumous award for Hilma Barrera highlights Essex County Unsung Hero Award’s mission to honor students who make outstanding contributions to their schools
ORANGE, N.J. – Forty-seven students from high schools throughout Essex County were celebrated as unsung heroes on Thursday night, but one Technology High School student’s story was a powerful lesson in the preciousness of life.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that our unsung hero, Hilma Barrera, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on March 8,” said Kimberly Wiener, a Technology High School department chairperson. Hilma had died of cancer only days before the ceremony.
Her picture was projected on the auditorium’s huge screen at the Orange Preparatory Academy of Inquiry and Innovation. She smiled brightly, proudly wearing a blue blazer bearing the logo of HOSA, the extracurricular club for future healthcare professionals. She had aspired to become a pathologist so she could help cancer patients as she had been helped.
Her best friend, Kimberly Paramo-Verdugo, tried to hold back tears as she accepted the award on Hilma’s behalf.
It was an unexpected solemn moment during the 2025 Unsung Hero Student Recognition Ceremony, but it could not have been more fitting for the event. For nine years, the Essex County School Boards Association and the New Jersey School Boards Association have hosted the awards to honor high school seniors who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities. For many high schools, the ceremony is an opportunity to recognize students who might not otherwise receive accolades.
In Hilma’s case, her remarkable contribution to her school was her perseverance and her refusal to be defined by her limitations.
“She remained relentlessly diligent in pursuit of her long-term goals,” Wiener said.
Despite her illness, Hilma maintained a 4.2 GPA, was inducted into the National Honor Society, ranked 20th in her class, and applied to multiple colleges and universities.
She is now the first graduate of Technology High School’s Class of 2025. The audience erupted in applause when Wiener made the announcement.
Hasani K. Council, Newark’s Board of Education President and Second Vice President of the Essex County School Boards Association, called for another round of applause before announcing the next honoree, University High School’s Al-Tariq Hamilton.
When Dr. Shavon Chambers, Vice Principal of University High School, took the podium, she asked everyone to “just pause.”
She shared that before the ceremony, Al-Tariq had told her that the present moment they were all sharing was “priceless.”
“When he said it, it didn’t really hit me until we all just heard about our unsung hero from Technology High School,” Chambers said. “How blessed we are to be able to celebrate young people despite the obstacles.”
A total of 19 Newark Public Schools high school seniors were honored as unsung heroes. The complete list is below:
- Jairo Rodriguez, American History High School
- Jaedon Sharma, Arts High School
- Shantanu Dogra, Bard High School Early College
- Jarell Spriggins, Barringer High School
- Erbentha Theodate, Central High School
- Tajee Groomes, Eagle Academy for Young Men
- Maria De Lucena, East Side High School
- Rayshon Wilson, John F. Kennedy School
- Oyinkansola Adebusoye, Malcolm X Shabazz High School
- Alxsa Acuna, New Jersey Regional Day School
- Laurant Ovbiye, Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology
- Khaye Robertson, Newark School of Fashion and Design
- Rhythm Bearfield, Newark School of Global Studies
- Eliot Francisco, Newark Vocational High School
- Natasha Hunter, Science Park High School
- Hilma Barrera, Technology High School
- Al-Tariq Hamilton, University High School
- Kenya Duren-Ross, Weequahic High School
- La-Najah Womack, West Side High School
“We are incredibly proud of all our students, whose contributions to their schools and communities embody the very best of Newark Public Schools,” said Superintendent León. “Every year, the Essex County Unsung Hero Student Recognition Ceremony honors the resilience, dedication, and selflessness of our students. This year, we are especially moved by the recognition of Hilma Barrera, whose perseverance and commitment to excellence continue to inspire us all. Her legacy serves as a reminder that true heroism is found in the courage to overcome obstacles and the determination to make a difference.”
“I commend all of our honorees for their dedication to their schools and communities, and I am proud to celebrate their achievements alongside their families, educators, and peers,” said Board President Council. “The Essex County School Boards Association proudly holds this event as one of the most meaningful of the year because it highlights the students whose contributions often go unnoticed but are truly invaluable. This year, we are especially honored to recognize Hilma Barrera, for her resilience, determination, and the lessons she taught us that remind us that every day we have in this life is precious.”
In addition to Board President Council, attending the event in support of the District’s honorees were Deputy Superintendent Yolonda Severe, Assistant Superintendent Sylvia Esteves, School Business Administrator Valerie Wilson, and Board Member Helena Vinhas.
About Newark Public Schools
The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676. The District currently enrolls over 40,000 students in 64 schools. After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.