Arnold Middle School eighth grade student Fiorella Gonzalez Tollo won the national HMH Red 180 award. Gonzalez Toro is one of 49 winners named nationwide for this award.

May 21, 2025—Arnold Middle School eighth grade student Fiorella Gonzalez Tollo was named one of 49 national winners of the HMH Read 180 award. Gonzalez Tollo was surprised with a celebration with HMH on May 8 to celebrate her accomplishment. Classmates, family and Arnold faculty joined in to commemorate the moment.   

The Read 180 award honors students achieving remarkable growth and the educators guiding them. Students are nominated based on academic growth in reading skills, student growth mindset, and personal growth as a reader. Students are required to actively use the Read 180 software to help build their reading foundation.

Arnold Middle School eighth grade student Fiorella Gonzalez Tollo is surrounded by classmates, CFISD administration, family and HMH representatives during a surprise celebration on May 8 commemorating her accomplishment of being one of 49 national Read 180 winners.

“Fiorella is a blessing that comes along and just blows you out of the water,” said Melinda Abel, Arnold Read 180 teacher. “I can’t express how proud I am of her. She is one of the hardest working students I have ever met. She has taken the tools for reading that I have taught her and used them to understand the task she was asked to complete. All I can say to Fiorella is thank you for allowing me to be your teacher. She may be the winner of the award, but I feel I am the winner for having Fiorella as a student.”

One standout aspect of Gonzalez Tollo’s achievement is that she earned the National Read 180 award after living in the United States for just one year as an immigrant from Venezuela. In preparation for nominations, Gonzalez Tollo set a goal that she would win this award and she achieved it.

“When we got to class, it seemed strange to see that we were waiting for Ms. Delgado, as if they were going to announce something,” said Gonzalez Tollo. “I felt very happy and surprised at the same time. All of my classmates and friends congratulated me. When I left the classroom and told my mom, we both cried with joy.”