Newark Honors 'Youth Who Uplift'

Newark, NJ – Every good student should have their day of recognition.

Newark officials recently honored 22 students – one for each of its high schools – as part of its inaugural “Youth Who Uplift Awards,” held at the School of Law at Rutgers University-Newark on April 29.

According to city officials, the award ceremony marked the first time Newark history that a recognition program has honored a student from every high school in the city.

The program is intended to “acknowledge the heritage and achievements of Newark students,” city officials stated in a news release.

Each chosen student excelled in one or more of the following categories:

• Scholarship
• Community Service
• Arts
• Leadership
• Sports
• Overcoming (seemingly) insurmountable obstacles

Honored students included:

• Arts High School - Ajanae Price
• American History High School - Jaylin VanDyke
• Bard High School Early College - Krissantonia Kerr
• Barringer Academy of the Arts & Humanities - Totiyohna Williams-Armand
• Barringer High School (S.T.E.A.M.) - Maylynn Guzman
• Barringer High School (S.T.E.A.M.) - Aaron Foster
• Central High School - Sekou Bayo
• East Side High School - Mecca Gayles
• Malcolm X. Shabazz High School - Imani Muhammad
• New Jersey Regional Day School - Kemal Tate
• Science Park High School - Joseph Arewa
• Technology High School - Victoria Wint
• University High School - Brianna Davis
• Weequahic High School - Naylene Vasquez
• Westside High School - Infinity Hedrington
• Christ the King Preparatory School - Natalia Da Silva
• People’s Preparatory Charter School - Domonique Boyd
• The Paulo Freire Charter School - Infiniti West
• Marion P. Thomas Charter School - Hadiyyah Abdullah
• St. Benedict’s Preparatory School - Farrad Williams
• St. Vincent’s Academy - Adebola Adeagbo
• Alif Muhammad Nia School - Ebaadah Kirby Puryear

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Photos: City Of Newark Press Office