High School Leadership Awards Ceremony 2024 Program

Dear Honored Students,

Welcome to the Widener University High School Leadership Awards ceremony. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on behalf of Widener University, NBC10, and Telemundo62 as we honor you, the winners of the 2024 High School Leadership Awards.

As you know, this awards program was designed to recognize high school students in the region who embody Widener’s focus on leadership, academic excellence, overall character, hard work and dedication. The quality of your nominations reaffirms my strong belief that the Widener mission is critical to our future. Each of you were selected for your ability to stand up for what you believe in, speak out on behalf of others and make an impact in your communities. Among the award recipients here today, you’ve accumulated hundreds of hours of community service over the past year, upheld rigorous academic and extracurricular course loads, mentored younger students and more—all wonderful acts of leadership and volunteerism.

You are undoubtedly the next generation of leaders. I truly thank you for your enormous contributions to both your high schools and local communities and look forward to personally congratulating you all during today’s award presentation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stacey M. Robertson President, Widener University

High School Leadership Awards Ceremony

Registration .........................

Welcome Remarks ....................

Opening Remarks . .

Impact Remarks . . .

Keynote ............................

National Constitution Center

Grand Hall Overlook

Mrs. Tracy Davidson

Anchor, NBC10

Dr. Stacey Robertson President, Widener University

Elizabeth Lynch

2018 HSLA Award Recipient & Apogee Scholar

Dr. Marina Barnett

Associate Professor and Interim Assistant Provost for Civic Engagement, Widener University

Presentation of Certificates .............

Elizabeth Lynch

2018 HSLA Award Recipient & Apogee Scholar

Closing Remarks .....................

Dr. Stacey Robertson

President, Widener University

Emcee Biography

Tracy Davidson, Anchor, NBC10 Philadelphia

Tracy Davidson is an anchor and investigative consumer reporter for NBC10 News.

Tracy joined NBC10 in March 1996 and has served as both an anchor and consumer reporter. Over the last 25 years, she has represented the station at hundreds of community and charity events throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

Tracy has received 14 Emmy Awards, including the Best News Anchor Emmy for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2008 and 2013. In 2013, Temple University honored Tracy with the Lew Klein Alumni in Media Award. She was recognized with Pennsylvania’s Most Powerful and Influential Women Award by the National and Pennsylvania Diversity Council. In 2014, she was inducted into Philadelphia’s Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2017, Tracy was awarded with the “Hero Award” from Montgomery Child Advocacy project.

Passionate about many causes, Tracy devotes much of her personal time to community service. As an advocate for victims of domestic violence, she has been honored by both the Laurel House in Norristown, Pennsylvania and Vera House in Syracuse, New York. She has served on the Board of Directors for Philabundance and as the Honorary Chair for the March of Dimes’ Walk America/March for Babies. Tracy currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Manor College. Additionally, she has been an active participant in the Widener University High School Leadership Awards since its inception in 2011, cementing her commitment to developing the future leaders of the region.

Drawing from her background, experience and passion for education, Tracy also co-hosts a bi-annual day for women; Lifting Your Voice, which is designed to educate, empower and connect women.

Awards Ceremony The High School Leadership Awards

In partnership with NBC10 and Telemundo62, Widener University launched the High School Leadership Awards program in 2011 to identify regional high school students who embody the university’s commitment to develop and inspire leaders who affect positive change. The program recognizes local high school students for their outstanding civic contributions, leadership, and commitment to their communities.

Each year, principals and counselors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are encouraged to identify one current high school junior who exhibits the ability to stand up for what is right, address a wrong, and make a difference in their community or school. After a rigorous nomination and selection process, Widener University selected 137 students to receive the High School Leadership Award this year.

Widener aspires to be a dynamic, inclusive academic community, transforming students into scholars, leaders, and globally engaged citizens. The university embraces a culture of leadership that inspires students, faculty, and staff to have a positive influence on their workplaces, professions, communities, and the world. Consequently, Widener is proud to co-sponsor the High School Leadership Awards program that calls attention to the next generation of local leaders.

In addition to being recognized as young leaders in the region, the recipients will also receive a scholarship of $20,000 over four years should they enroll at Widener University as a freshman for undergraduate studies and be named an Apogee Scholar. As an Apogee Scholar, students will participate in various leadership development programs and can earn a minor or certificate in leadership.

Award Winners

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Holy Spirit High School, Jared Martin Muana

St. Augustine Preparatory, Nicholas Abrams

Absegami High School, Cassandra Hughes

Mainland Regional High School, Alex Ryon

St. Joseph Academy, Marlaina Mantuano

BERKS COUNTY

Daniel Boone Area High School, Ethan Scott

Exeter Township Senior High School, Richter Bogust

BLAIR COUNTY

Central High School, Jaden Gillion

BUCKS COUNTY

William Tennent High School, Gianna Torres

Palisades High School, Alexandra Smithson

Pennsbury High School, Andrew Prasanth

Quakertown Community High School, Jaelyn Taylor

Villa Joseph High School, Rylind Pasquito

Bensalem High School, Tejas Sasan

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Burlington City High School, Brianna Tovar

Cinnaminson High School, Alyssa Fuegel

Delran High School, Isabel Singleton

Cherokee High School, Ella Bree

Shawnee High School, James DiBlasi

Holy Cross Academy, Molly Frith

Award Winners

CAMDEN COUNTY

Camden County Technical School—Pennsauken, Lee’Ahna Dupont

Collingswood High School, Tre Ramsburg

Eastern Regional High School, Jacob Salvatore

Gloucester City High School, Landon Johnston

Haddon Township High School, Keira Dempsey

Haddonfield Memorial High School, Ian Mazzei

Camden Catholic High School, Kyle Aquino

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Renee Bak

Pennsauken High School, Cymara Williams

Triton Regional High School, James Kaminski

CAPE MAY COUNTY

Wildwood Catholic Academy, Stella Quinn

CARBON COUNTY

Weatherly Area High School, Rachel Downs

CHESTER COUNTY

Avon Grove Charter School, Alma Lopez

Delaware Valley Friends School, Isaac McGee

Downingtown STEM Academy, Olivia Steinberg

Great Valley High School, Marcus King

Unionville High School, Luca Guidotti

B. Reed Henderson High School, Jason Rice

Woodlynde School, Kaelin Godfrey

Collegium Charter School, Mac Batdorf

Oxford Area High School, Owen Oliver

Bayard Rustin High School, John Anthony

Valley Forge Military Academy, Benjamin Ramasute

Award Winners

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Cumberland Regional High School, Meadow Willitts

DELAWARE COUNTY

Garnet Valley High School, Dan Dada

Strath Haven High School, Zoe Likely

Marple Newtown High School, Mya Kleinschmidt

Ridley High School, Christopher Capozzoli

Harriton High School, Musyn Dennis

Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School, Lisa Malone

Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Sydney Batts

Penncrest High School, Rita Tonsa

Sun Valley High School, Abigail Grelis

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Glassboro High School, Hanna Juma

Deptford Township High School, McKyla Crowley

Gateway Regional High School, Kalise Miller

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Kaitlynn Kirk

Clearview Regional High School, Isabella Moraca

Paulsboro High School, Alyssa Veney

Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Kate Clune

KENT COUNTY

Caesar Rodney High School, Olivia Lewandowski

LEHIGH COUNTY

Northwestern Lehigh High School, Rylee McGinley

Southern Lehigh High School, Jacalyn Jean

Emmaus High School, Jackson Kreiner

Award Winners

Northern Lehigh High School, Matthew McCarty

MERCER COUNTY

Trenton Catholic School, Dylaney Talkpa

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Calliope Beatty

Jenkintown High School, Jeanmarie Gehan

Norristown Area High School, Rama Jalloh

North Penn High School, Vedika Deshpande

Perkiomen Valley High School, Sophie Sellers

Springfield Township High School, Sara Sharpe

Upper Dublin High School, Angelina Graham

Wissahickon High School, Marlen Cortes-Martinez

Lansdale Catholic High School, Chase Anderson

The Baldwin School, Emily Sidlow

La Salle College High School, Sean Higgins

Merion Mercy Academy, Samantha Ross

Pottsgrove High School, Jaina Strunk

Upper Merion Area High School, Claire Gardiner

Upper Moreland High School, Addison Hurley

NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Freire Charter School—Wilmington, Andrea Salahuddin-Robinson

Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Jordan Coker

Howard High School of Technology, Glory Forbi

Padua Academy, Audrey Bruening

Archmere Academy, Hannah Stewart

Delcastle Technical High School, Kaira Browne

Caravel Academy, Maya Peoples

Award Winners

Newark High School, Mia Carew

William Penn High School, Oyinladun Akinroluyo

Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, Haylie Dawson

The John Dickinson High School, Abigail Blesdoe

St. Mark’s High School, JP Klemas

Conrad Schools of Science, Alysa Efe

Ursuline Academy, Karina Gendron

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for Performing Arts, Kamai Williams

Saucon Valley Senior High School, Peter Albano

Notre Dame High School, Claire Ceraul

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, William Vokolos

Nazareth Academy High School, Annabella Davies

Franklin Towne Charter High School, James McFadden

Lankenau High School, Daiquan Shepherd

Mariana Bracetti Academy High School, Justice Stanton

New Foundations Charter High School, Julian Felix

Paul Robeson High School, Maddison Gordon

Philadelphia Academy Charter High School, Juliana Chang

Universal Audenried Charter High School, Sita Sanou

Archbishop Ryan High School, Mark Anthony

Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School, Jennifer Haifa

Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Sala Bouy

John Bartram High School, Dajuan Peak

Samuel Fels High School, Trinity Freeman

Philadelphia High School for Girls, Majay Konneh

Imhotep Institute Charter High School, Isaiah Prater

Award Winners

Constitution High School, Cavance Snaith

Cristo Rey High School, Morgan Hughes

Freire Charter School—Philadelphia, Nasir Lacend

Parkway Center City High School, Mariam Coulibaly

Philadelphia Electrical Technology (PET) Charter High School, Nevaeh Brown

William L. Sayre High School, Niazyiah Newton

William W. Bodine High School for Intl. Affairs, Khader Motan

Roxborough High School, Saamir James

Roxborough H.S., Kayla Forster

South Philadelphia High School, Warren Sutton

George Washington High School, Juelz Palmero

Friends School, Sophia Le

Multicultural Academy Charter School, Shiya Graham

Science Leadership Academy, Xen Gadsden

SALEM COUNTY

Penns Grove High School, Kayla Smith

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

Pottsville Area High School, Julie Szeliga

Tamaqua Area High School, Iggy Neifert

Mahanoy Area High School, William Mayberry

Pine Grove High School, Sophie Harris

Minersville High School, Rebecca Zula

Schuylkill Haven High School, Anna Schaeffer

YORK COUNTY

William Penn Senior High School, Eliel Vazquez-Montanez

York Catholic High School, Rosalyn Mulligan