The Advisory Committee on Education (ACE) welcomed guests last Wednesday to its 26th annual Student Awards where 12 students were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements during the past school year.
The event took place over Zoom at the beginning of the Greenbelt City Council worksession. Maryland State Senator Paul Pinsky was in attendance, along with School Board Member Joshua Thomas, County Councilmember Todd Turner and Delegates Anne Healey, Alonzo Washington and Nichole Williams.
Melinda Brady, current chair of ACE, hosted the awards ceremony, starting by thanking the attendees and award winners for their commitment to excellence in education in Greenbelt, Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.
Principals and administrators of the six Greenbelt public schools were also recognized: Dr. Phyllis Gillens and Yolanda Coleman from Magnolia Elementary, Dr. Monica Gaines and Sharelle Stagg from Greenbelt Elementary, Trena Wilson and Andrew Karnes from Springhill Lake Elementary, James Spence and Sandrine Boukabara from Dora Kennedy French Immersion, Dr. Daria Valentine and Shelita Campbell from Greenbelt Middle School and Reginald McNeill from Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS).
The awards were presented to the students by the ACE liaisons of their respective schools. These members include Gordon Gainer, vice-chair of ACE, Don Rich, Janet Mirsky, Kate McIlhenny, Veronica Martin-Alston and Jon Gardner. There are three other members of ACE: Elsie Waynes, who was unable to attend that night; the liaison from the Youth Advisory Committee, Jackson Tuthill and the city staff liaison, Liz Park.
The purpose of the awards was to recognize Greenbelt students who honor the city’s traditions of citizenship, leadership and academic achievement. The Student Awards complement the Educator Awards, which ACE presented to teachers and staff members from Greenbelt schools in March.
The honored students all received certificates of recognition from the city, the county and the state. From ACE, each of the elementary and middle school students received a $25 gift card and the graduating ERHS winners each received a $2,500 scholarship.
Magnolia Elementary
The first 2021 ACE student award winner was from Magnolia Elementary School. Fifth grader Brianna Obeng Agyei was recognized as an exemplary Talented and Gifted (TAG) scholar in all subjects. Jelani Thomas-Kamara was also recognized from Magnolia as an ACE award recipient.
Greenbelt Elementary
The next recipient was Vincent Oseafiana from Greenbelt Elementary School, described as a wonderfully ambitious and capable student who consistently demonstrates strong, positive personal values and sets an excellent example for other students. Also awarded from Greenbelt Elementary was Magali Ngumesone. After being introduced and awarded, Ngumesone gave a speech about her gratitude in receiving this award. “I’m so truly honored . . . your outstanding and meaningful action has sparked a chain reaction in me to excel even better in the future.”
Springhill Lake Elementary
Awarded from Springhill Lake Elementary was Zainab Ahmad. ACE member Mirsky described Ahmad as not only dedicated to doing the absolute best she can in all areas of her academic life, but as doing so with grace, kindness and a deep love of creativity. The next winner from Springhill Lake was Jaleel Le’Sueur, described as a supportive classmate throughout the virtual learning experience who helps create a positive, cooperative environment and is always willing to offer help to teachers and peers.
French Immersion
The award winner from Dora Kennedy French Immersion was 8th grader Caitlin Anderson, who has proven her ability to complete tasks with favorable results, despite distance learning. Anderson always attends virtual classes prepared to face the challenges of the day and does so with poise, grace and enthusiasm even through these challenging times.
Greenbelt Middle
From Greenbelt Middle School, Chianugo Okeke and Trinity Morgan were both awarded. ACE member Martin-Alston said Okeke “has an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and community outreach” and said of Morgan, “She is a true leader in and out of the classroom. Not only has Trinity excelled academically, she is also active within her community doing wonderful things.”
Roosevelt High
The final three awards were given to students from ERHS. Tyler Zeigler, a young woman of exemplary character and a Girl Scout for 11 years, maintained honor roll grades throughout high school. ACE presented Zeigler with a $2,500 educational scholarship in recognition of her accomplishments and to contribute to her future endeavors.
Jennifer Onoha, a senior in ERHS’s highly selective and academically demanding Science and Technology Center, is a member of the Debate Team; Girls Varsity Cheerleading Squad; Truth, Love and Character Club; Young Women’s Christian Association, a young women’s empowerment group; and the Spanish Honor Society. She also received a $2,500 educational scholarship in recognition of her accomplishments and to contribute to her future endeavors.
The final award given was the Delegate’s Award, presented by Delegate Anne Healey. The award was presented to Hashem Wahed from ERHS. Healey described Wahed as a person who values hard work, follow-through, getting the job done and doing it to the best of his ability. A passionate, curious, ambitious and industrious student, Wahed also values education and does not take that privilege for granted. “It’s the most important thing in his life,” said Healey. Wahed was awarded a $500 Scholarship to help him in future studies. Wahed said he was shocked when he first found out he had received this award. “I was working hard, getting my grades up … I never really expected someone to notice but apparently I was wrong.” He also thanked his mother for always instilling such a strong value of education and hard work in him and all the faculty at ERHS who helped motivate him.
Haley Kerby is a University of Maryland Journalism student writing for the News Review.
