Scholar Spotlight
Pride’s Academic Achievement Award: Latifa Kiema
Pride’s Academic Achievement Award is presented to the scholar with the best overall academic scores.
Speech:
Tonight, we celebrate not only the conclusion of a journey, but the making of a legacy. Among us stands a scholar who has not only met every challenge with quiet strength, but has transformed those challenges into stepping stones for greatness. Our valedictorian represents everything Pride Academy stands for—Peace, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy.
Let me share with you a short parable:
There was once a lantern maker in a quiet village. Her lanterns were not the largest or the flashiest, but they were known to burn the longest. When asked how her lanterns shone so steadily, she replied, “I don’t rush the process. I shape each frame with care, polish the glass until it’s clear, and choose the wick that burns brightest—not fastest.”
And so, while others burned bright and burned out, her lanterns lit the paths of travelers long after sunset.
This scholar is that lantern maker. Her brilliance does not come from shortcuts or spotlight moments, but from discipline, resilience, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way—even when no one is watching. Throughout her time at Pride Academy, she never earned less than an A in any class. But her true greatness lies beyond the grades.
Our Valedictorian is the kind of scholar who embodies peace by treating others with quiet dignity, models respect by valuing every voice, lives with integrity by choosing honesty over ease, and shows determination by never settling for “good enough.” And perhaps most powerfully, she leads with empathy, always lifting others while never dimming her own light. She embodies the words of the poem by Marianne Williamson that inspired the very creation of Pride, “as we let our light shine, we give others permission to do the same.”
Tonight’s valedictorian earned over 30 awards and recognitions—not by chance, but by choice. She made the choice to show up early, to stay late, to ask the hard questions, and to hold herself to the highest standard. Her legacy is not just one of achievement—it’s one of character. One of perseverance. One filled with a strong sense of purpose.
You have blazed a trail. You have proven that success is not just about what you do, but how you do it. You are a role model, not only for your siblings and this class, but for every Pride Scholar who walks these halls after you. Your lantern has lit the way. Go and shine far beyond these walls. Congratulations, Latifa Kiema.
Fiona Thomas Pride Scholar Award: Windel Denis
The Fiona Thomas Pride Scholar Award is given to the scholar that most personifies the Pride Academy’s core values of Peace, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy.
Speech:
Each year, Pride Academy celebrates the student who most embodies our prized Core Values of peace, respect, integrity, determination, and empathy. This year the name of this award has been changed, honoring the person who is the reason for Pride’s existence and its best model for living our core values: Pride’s founder Mrs. Fiona Thomas.
It is my delight and honor to share with you our winner of the Fiona Thomas Pride Scholar Award. I sadly did not have the privilege of teaching this scholar, but those who had that pleasure are unanimous in their praise. Mrs. Kalemba was impressed with their peaceful positivity and insistence on constantly looking for ways to help others. Mr. Geiger shared that what sets this scholar apart was their determined mindset. This scholar saw every task no matter how challenging or small as a learning opportunity. Mrs. Wilson similarly spoke in praise of this student’s impressive determination. They never once complained about the workload but simply tried their best while employing empathy to encourage those who were less motivated. Mr. Zabor applauded their heavy involvement in the Yearbook Club and PAWS which is Pride’s Gifted and Talented Program as well as this scholar’s integrity with taking the initiative to stay on top of communication. Meanwhile, Mr. Gardner highlighted the fact that our winner was a member of the NJHS, achieving high honor roll all three trimesters in 8th grade, and was someone who embodied leadership by leading quietly by receiving respect from their peers.
These are just a few of the numerous examples of this scholar’s peaceful demeanor, respectful nature, integrity in how they carry themself, determination to tackle challenges, and empathetic outlook. This scholar did not live the Core Values because they were told to; this scholar lived the Core Values because that is who they are.
This is the true hope for all our scholars here tonight. If Pride has taught you one lesson that will remain with you forever we hope it is this: To use our Core Values to see the world with eyes eager to notice what needs to be changed–whether you caused the problem or not–and to act to make a difference by making the world a better place for others.
This year’s Fiona Thomas Pride Scholar Award Winner has time and again proven themselves a master of this lesson, and so we proudly honor them tonight with this very special award. Please join me in congratulating Windel Denis.
The Founders Award: Ryan Barrett
The Founders Award which we are about to present goes to the scholar that has demonstrated the greatest level of growth and change throughout their time here at Pride Academy Charter School.
Speech:
The Founders Award which we are about to present goes to the student that has demonstrated the greatest level of growth and change throughout their time here at Pride Academy Charter School.
Over the past four years, we have had the opportunity to see a scholar grow right before our eyes. When I think back to their 5th grade year, the things that stand out the most are lots of tears and total meltdowns when things didn’t go their way. They struggled with being held accountable and struggled with disappointments. Not winning a prize seemed like the end of the world. This went on for some time and even well into their 6th grade year. Then something magical happened. The power of music transformed this boy into a young man. And he let us all know it when he sang, “Don’t worry… about a thing. Every little thing… is going to be alright.”
When he got upset or stressed, he would think that to himself and it helped him to realize that whatever was going on was not a big deal and that everything…. was going to be alright. When he did this, the strain of school … and the stress of not getting what he wanted …really, really badly…seemed to just go away. His new mindset allowed him to focus on things he could control and he began to do better in his classes and in everything that he did, including sharing his musical gifts during our Black Excellence Showcase and serving as Pride’s very own weather man. Even more impressive is his academic achievements, as he earned honor roll every trimester this year.
His last gift to Pride Academy came through some words of wisdom that he shared during a morning assembly video. These words have served him well, so I urge you all to take them to heart. “When things are bad, let them go, no matter how bad they are.”
We hope that you will always remember this as you head off to high school and beyond. Just remember no matter what happens, “Every little thing… is going to be alright.”
For these reasons, we are very proud to award the 2025 Pride Academy Founders Award to Ryan Barrett.