Scholar Spotlight
Pride’s Academic Excellence Award: Victoria Rose
Pride’s Academic Excellence Award is presented to the scholar with the best overall academic scores. This year, two scholars achieved the exact same grade point average and, therefore, share the honor of achieving the Academic Excellence Award.
Speech:
Pride’s The Academic Achievement award is presented to the scholar with the highest grades and is commonly known as the Valedictorian. This is award is so prestigious that the recipient will undoubtedly put it on their resume when you apply to college.
For most of the awards that are awarded tonight, it is difficult to pick the winner. In the 2022 class, there is a lot of talent, a lot of creativity, a lot of passion, and a lot of achievement. For the Academic Achievement award, however, it is quite an easy chore. It’s simple math – simple arithmetic. The student with the highest Grade Point Average across all of their subjects in their 8th-grade year is the winner.
The simplicity of it does not overshadow the complexity, determination, and self-control one needs to master to achieve this award. Arguably, there needs to be some academic talent in order to obtain it. But beyond that, what separates the student winning from the students that fall a few points short is consistency and patience across all subjects. We all have or have had our favorite subjects… and then there are those other ones that do not fit our skillset or interest completely.
To become the Valedictorian, one needs to power through those obstacles, to accept that certain skills or concepts will take longer to learn, to overcome the thoughts of “I will to that later”. Procrastination is, after all, known as the thief time, the opportunity assassin, and the enemy of success.
At this point, I am realizing that you, dear Valedictorian, have established an excellent foundation for the future. You are prepared. You are ready. My advice to you is therefore a bit unorthodox.
I need you to fail. I need you to make mistakes. I need you to take risks. Nelson Mandela said “There is no passion to be found in playing small – it is settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”.
You, and the rest of your 2022 graduating peers, are my son and daughter’s future. You will be their doctors, teachers, nurses, lawyers, carpenters, and electricians. My kids will need you to be your absolute bests. And therefore, I do need you to push yourself and accept that you will make mistakes. Don’t settle for the comfort of what is known but embrace the challenge of something new.
Dear Academic Achievement winner.
The whole Pride family are very proud of you and are looking forward follow all of your future success.
This year’s Academic Achievement award winner is Victoria Rose
The Pride Scholar Award: Tamara Hope
The Pride Scholar award is given to the scholar that most personifies the Pride Academy core values of Peace, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy.
Speech:
Graduation is a beautiful opportunity to celebrate and honor our remarkable scholars. It is truly a gift for us to all be gathered here tonight. This is US- a Pride family! While watching one of my favorite shows, This Is Us (no pun intended), I heard this line that not only reminded me of my dad, but I connected to it as a teacher. “What an unusual thing, to love someone so unconditionally when you know time probably won’t allow you to be such a big part of their story.”
As middle school teachers, we have our scholars for four short years, recognizing that we are only a part of their story, blessed to plant some seeds along the way. The last few years of pandemic life, although it seemed as if the world had stopped, and although we had a remote connection, shortened our physical time together even more, especially with this group of scholars. We went through something, yet our love and regard for one another sustained us and carried us through and we continue to overcome the challenges of each day together. This experience will be in our hearts and minds for many years to come, and we will always be bonded by this time.
According to the National Charter School Resource Center, “since the first charter school opened in Minnesota in 1992, the charter school movement has grown to more than 7, 547 schools operating nationwide in, serving more than 3.4 million students.” In NJ, there are 2,493 schools, 91 of which are charter schools…but only one Pride Academy! One of the many blessings of working in a unique school such as Pride Academy is that of being surrounded by some of the most talented and most creative people, serving the most extraordinary scholars! When students enter our doors, they bring with them diverse talents, goals, and dreams, which become critical for their transformation as scholars, and our growth to becoming master teachers. Our belief in every scholar is evident from the first interaction. We don’t believe in our students when they rise to excellence, our students rise to excellence because we believe in them.
There is an old Jamaican proverb that states, “a silent river runs deep.” The scholar being honored tonight reflects the following:
- She was a reliable and positive leader in the League of Leaders, aka LOL!
- She was always one to lift the level of excellence of whatever activity we were doing. For example, when creating teacher gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week, she suggested ways to make the presentation of the gift nicer and more special for teachers.
- She was always volunteering to stay after school to make all of the League of Leaders – LOL! projects and activities go well.
- LOL activities were successful because of her leadership, not only because she was willing to do extra work, but also because she modeled leadership to the younger members of LOL.
- Even last year, when there were very few members because we were remote, she was a present and strong leader. Because of her leadership, Pride scholars got to enjoy events like Movie Night, Gaming Night, Friendsgiving, Friendship Parties, and other activities that helped children to be social when they were stuck at home.
One of my favorite people in the world, Maya Angelou shared many words during her 86 years on this earth and I would like to refer to her wisdom as I speak of this scholar.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Our award winner this evening is an individual who touches the heart of every person she encounters, even if for a moment. She is patient and kind and does not judge. When she speaks to her peers and teachers, she speaks from a place of love and empathy. She listens without interruption, forgives, and accepts people for who they are, but holds them to the same high standards she set for herself.
She certainly does not settle for excuses, complain, or accept mediocrity. If she wants a different outcome, she will make the change she needs to, for it to be better. This is evidenced by her high regard and appreciation for her parents who modeled these mindsets when they migrated to the United States from the beautiful island of Jamaica.
She is always positive and calm despite what is happening around her. Amid life’s storms and joys, her presence is like an island breeze that wraps peace around you like a blanket, a reminder that everything will be okay. Circumstances and emotions do not lead her to make spontaneous decisions. Rather than being consumed by challenges, she maintains her courage, resolve and determination to be focused on achieving her goals and aspirations.
Some time ago, I read a poster that stated the following:
“1 universe
8 or 9 planets (depending on who you ask)
204 countries
809 islands
7 seas
And I had the privilege to meet you!”
Immediately, I thought of the recipient of the award this evening and to culminate my speech, I share these final words from This is Us:
“The way I see it, if something makes you sad when it ends, it must have been pretty wonderful when it was happening. Because everything ends. Everything dies. But if you step back, if you step back and look at the whole picture, if you’re brave enough to allow yourself the gift of a really wide perspective, if you do that, you’ll see that the end is not sad. It’s just the start of the next incredibly beautiful thing.”
And at Pride Academy, we had the privilege to teach the one and only, Pride Scholar Award Winner, who is on her way to the next phase of her journey- the Pride Scholar Award goes to Tamara Hope!
The Founders Award: Ramona Linton
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:
Around this time over 15 years Jodi Wilson, Rose Mary Dumenigo, Amanda Quinn, and Fiona Thomas, with the hard work and support of Sue Becker and Robin Brower, set out to create a school that would one day transform lives. As we worked many long hours to create the plans, systems, budgets, and policies that would one day guide Pride Academy, we also dreamed of the types of students that we wanted to teach and reach in a special way.
Believe it or not, YOU ARE EXACTLY WHO HOPED FOR AND WANTED at Pride Academy.
Our goal was always to help children to realize their true potential and inspire growth and change. And each one of you has made our dream a reality in big ways and in small ways. You have all grown in ways that truly make us proud. Even more incredibly, you managed to grow and develop in the middle of a pandemic. Whether we were remote, hybrid, or in person, you pushed through and got through every challenge that was thrown at you, and somehow were resilient enough to get through it. You learned that you can do hard things. For this, the Class of 2022 will always have a special place in our hearts. We are truly proud of you.
At this time, I would like to call the founders that are present to join me at the podium.
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.
Maya Angelou once said, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” These are wise words indeed and they speak to what Pride Academy is trying to accomplish. Although we are a small school, our love is large. Our goal is to impact our community, our country, and our world by manifesting in our scholars an unrelenting belief in their own ability to make this world a better place through our mission and core values. In short, we hope our scholars will be teaching others about peace, determination, and integrity and that they will show others empathy and give everyone respect. Our world needs people like this now more than ever.
Undoubtedly, we have accomplished this goal when it comes to this year’s recipient of the Founder’s Award, because when asked about their experience at Pride, our recipient said the following.
“The teachers were especially my favorite part of Pride. They all gave me courage and hope, motivation and love.”
This scholar received these gifts from Pride teachers and the staff, and they have paid it forward by teaching and giving those qualities to our Pride community.
She has been courageous through her strong sense of self and by being brave enough to be her true and authentic self. She has modeled motivation and determination by setting high goals for herself and by working to meet those goals regardless of any obstacles. Her love for her friends and peers can be seen with the care and time that she puts into helping them through difficult challenges. Lastly, she gives us all hope through her beautiful smile and positive spirit.
She’s grown so much and also helped those around her to grow as well.
Keep doing that. “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” I am proud to award the 2022 Pride Academy Founders Award to Ramona Linton.