May 7, 2026
By Eva Shrestha
Staff Writer
Recognized for her impact on education and the community, Spanish teacher Mrs. Silvelo received the Mujeres Destacadas Award on March 27 at the Harvard Club of New York City.
Mujeres destacadas translates to “distinguished women.” The annual award was presented by El Diario Nueva York, the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States. This year, it went to 21 exceptional Latina women who are leaving a lasting mark in their fields.
Silvelo, who advises the Wonder Girls Club and co-advises the Academic Competition Team, Future Business Leaders of America Club and yearbook, said she was the only K-12 educator to receive the award this year.
“Everyone else was an influencer, a Broadway star, a CEO [or] a CFO,” Silvelo said. “There were a lot of people in corporate [roles], which is a world that I don’t live in.”
Silvelo, who was nominated by Wonder Girls co-founder Natalie Maniscalco, said the award holds deep meaning to her.
“As a first-generation college graduate and immigrant, I feel like it represents the fact that [in America,] you can achieve anything you set your mind to,” Silvelo said.
Silvelo moved from Spain to the United States when she was 4 years old.
“[Initially,] I didn’t speak any English, and my parents spoke no English…. That’s really influenced who I’ve become,” Silvelo said. “I became my parents’ secretary [and] translator, [which] any first-generation child [in] this country can understand.”
Silvelo went on to graduate from Kearny High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from New Jersey City University, where she majored in Spanish. She taught at Bayonne High School for 10 years and at Paramus Catholic High School for two years before coming to LHS, where she has taught Spanish I and II for the past 15 years.
“No matter what situation you’re in, she will give a helping hand and advice.”
Silvelo said the highlight of her career has been building lasting connections with her students.
“The work I’ve been able to do with FBLA and Wonder Girls, as well as just getting to know all of my students throughout life… has been so special,” Silvelo said. “Even after they’re gone, I don’t necessarily keep in touch with them, but when I see them, it’s like [they] never left.”
Junior Elarya Megally, who joined the FBLA Club as a freshman and the Wonder Girls Club as a sophomore, said Silvelo helped her become more confident and involved.
“She’s taught me just to go for [what I want], and whatever happens happens…. Everything happens for a reason,” Megally said.
She said Silvelo is someone everyone should take the time to get to know.
“She has so much valuable insight, and she’s just such a nice person. No matter what situation you’re in, she will give a helping hand and advice,” Megally said.
Junior Christina Mizeski, who joined the FBLA and Wonder Girls Clubs last year, said she appreciates Silvelo’s dedication and support as an advisor.
“She goes out of her way for all of us a lot. She makes sure that we have so many opportunities, whether it’s community service or… a career expo,” Mizeski said. “She’s given us a lot of chances, and I really appreciate it.”
Mizeski said her favorite memory of Silvelo occurred last year when her FBLA team, consisting of her, Megally and junior Nicholas Rizzo, had an issue that required them to create a new project just days before the State Leadership Conference in Atlantic City.
“Every single one of [our advisors] dropped what they were doing to help us. We had so much support in that moment… and then we ended up winning second place, qualifying for nationals,” Mizeski said.
History teacher Mr. Spence, who co-advises the FBLA Club, said Silvelo deserves this award because of her relentless dedication and drive.
“She literally never stops. What is so impressive to me about her is that she just keeps going,” Spence said. “I don’t believe that the word ‘no’ is in her vocabulary.”
Spence said Silvelo goes above and beyond as an educator.
“I do a lot, but it seems like she’s always doing double the amount that I’m doing, and all of the work that she does is to support our students, which is so admirable. Since she came to Lyndhurst to teach, she made this community a better place,” said Spence.
