9 Jun 2016

ACE Awards Showcase Student Achievement

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ACE Awards Showcase Student Achievement
Left to right, 1st Row: Elizabeth Adejumo (Greenbelt Middle), Zuha Sadeed (ERHS), State Delegate Anne Healey, Sophie Bernheisel (winner of Maryland State Delegate Award from Healey), State Delegate Tawanna Gaines, Kevin Mayo (Greenbelt Elementary), Audrey Versteegen (DKFI), Arik Chowduhry (Springhill Lake), Emely Contreras (Magnolia) and Najaah Miles (Springhill Lake). 2nd Row: Ingrid Harrison (representing County Councilmember Todd Turner), City Councilmember Leta Mach, Max Gonzalez-Cruz (Greenbelt Middle), Dean Mills (DKFI), Samantha Stewart (Greenbelt Elementary), Christopher Fernandez (Magnolia) and State Delegate Alonzo Washington. 3rd Row: State Senator Paul Pinsky, City Councilmembers Silke Pope and Edward Putens, Mayor Emmett Jordan and City Councilmembers Judith Davis, Konrad Herling and Rodney Roberts. Absent: Scott Candey (ERHS). Photo by Beverly Palau

The Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Education (ACE) Awards Ceremony was a highlight of the May 23 meeting of the Greenbelt City Council. All available seats were filled for this annual event as parents, students, principals and teachers celebrated the selection of the outstanding students. ACE committee member Melinda Brady opened the presentation, mentioning that the ACE Student Awards have been given out every year since 1996. Recipients must be residents of Greenbelt enrolled in the highest grade level at a local school. There are currently seven schools that are either located in Greenbelt or are the primary school for children living in Greenbelt. They are Greenbelt, Springhill Lake and Magnolia Elementary Schools, Turning Point Academy, Dora Kennedy French Immersion School, Greenbelt Middle School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School. (Turning Point Academy is a charter school that draws students from around the county. This year, the school did not have any students eligible for the ACE Student Award.) In addition to the city council, a number of local dignitaries were present and congratulated the awardees: State Senator Paul Pinsky; Delegates Tawanna Gaines, Anne Healey and Alonzo Washington; and Ingrid Harrison, representing County Councilmember Todd Turner. A number of the school principals were also present. The purpose of ACE is to serve as a link between the community and the city council, addressing education issues and promoting high quality schools for the people of Greenbelt.  See the full story in the paper by clicking HERE.