West Contra Costa Unified School District

African American Students of Honor Ceremony

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 ● 6:30— 8:00 p.m.

Craneway Pavilion 1414 Harbour Way South ● Richmond, CA

  

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PROGRAM Music……………………………………….. Kennedy High School Rock Band Under the direction of Margareta Billin Processional………………………………... Aspiring Students and Students of Honor Mistress of Ceremony……………………. Christie Smith, NBC Bay Area Musical Selection…………………………... Lift Every Voice and Sing! Welcome…………………………………...… Dr. Bruce Harter-Superintendent Mrs. Elaine Merriweather-Board Member Musical Selection………………………..… Non Nobis Domine and Mambol Italiano By the De Anza High School Concert Choir Under the direction of Mr. Kenneth Caton Recognition of Aspiring Students……… Selina Jackson, MA Recognition of Students of Honor……... Richmond High School Family Pinole Valley High School Family Hercules High School Family Special Appearance……………………..… Sydney Nycole Recognition of Students of Honor……... John F. Kennedy Family DeAnza High School Family El Cerrito High School Family Student Recognitions………………………. Students with 4.0 or higher GPA 4Richmond Scholarship Recipients Refreshments……………………....………. Provided by WCCUSD Food Services

Mistress of Ceremony Christie Smith

Christie Smith reports weekdays for Today in the Bay, NBC Bay Area’s morning news program.

Christie joined NBC Bay Area News in 2001 and worked in the East Bay at night for several years

before joining the morning news team.

At 2:30 in the morning. That is the answer to the question that she is asked most often. "What time

do you get up?" She appears on air from 4:30 am to 7 am and then again at 11 am.

A Berkeley native, Christie began her on-camera news career as an anchor/reporter in Medford, Or-

egon. From Medford, Christie moved to KCRA-TV in Sacramento and worked as a reporter for three

years. She covered national stories like the Yosemite Sightseer Murders and a tragic school shooting

just outside of San Diego. There were also stops in Monterey at KCCN-TV and Chicago at WFLD-TV

as a news writer and producer. Christie is an Emmy Award winning journalist.

She is a graduate of Berkeley High School. She earned a BA in English from UC Davis and an MSJ (in

journalism) from Northwestern University at the Medill School of Journalism. In 2002, Christie had the

opportunity to cover the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. "That was incredible, seeing people from

different countries and hearing all the interesting languages."

Christie has a large extended family in the Bay Area. She lives in the East Bay with her husband, two sons (who attend WCCUSD), and a rescue dog, Sydney, who just won't listen.

Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Black National Anthem)

Lift Every Voice and Sing" — sometimes referred to as "The Negro National Hymn" or "The Black National Anthem"— is a song written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) in 1899 and set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954) in 1900.

History "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was publicly performed first as a poem as part of a cele-bration of Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1900, by 500 school children at the segre-gated Stanton School. Its principal, James Weldon Johnson, wrote the words to intro-duce its honored guest Booker T. Washington.

Lyrics Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.

 

 

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RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL  FAMILY 

 Chavez Elementary 

Ynobe Alex Mario Lincoln Yolajah Reed 

Ansar Timmons  

Lake Elementary Jaya Dean 

 Peres Elementary Des�ni Barnes Laron Douglas JaNiyah Garne� Elijiah Gordon 

Arianna Gu�errez Natajahnay Hutson Laneja Roberson 

Cinseire Washington  

Verde Elementary DeMelle Cooley 

 Richmond High School Kalanna Latonya Naquin 

 PINOLE HIGH SCHOOL  

FAMILY  

Collins Elementary Teshanae Benne� Chauncey Hill 

Torrance Williams      

Ellerhorst Elementary Devin Jules Ineza Lopes 

Nolan Obinyan  

Montalvin Elementary Angel Jenkins Robby Kincaid 

 Shannon Elementary 

Makayla Jenkins Gregory Nwosibe 

 Stewart K‐8 School George Boateng 

Myles Ford Jalin Wiggins Malachi Young 

 Tara Hills Elementary 

Raymond Bailey Alexandria Jenkins Douglas McKinney Heaven Rehart Kayla Stewart 

 HERCULES HIGH SCHOOL 

FAMILY  

Hanna Ranch Elementary Brendan Dudley Brooklynn Hall 

Tori Hart Marlon Robinson 

Carter Smith Craney  

Hercules High School Tatyana Bivens 

  

Hercules Middle School Brian Vines 

 Lupine Hills Elementary 

Brianna Anderson Jayden Smith 

 JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL  

FAMILY  

Coronado Elementaqry Aaniah Bonner Chris�an Foy 

Darian McNeally Johron Moore Makhai Porter 

Jabaurri Webster  

Ford Elementary Aaliyah Tro�er 

 Grant Elementary 

Nasir Owens  

Kennedy High School Quelane Levi Ariana Rhodes Victoria Sims 

Shown�anee Stewart Jaylan Walker 

Lorraine Williams  

King Elementary Kenny Roberts 

Lanjanae Thomas      

RECOGNITION OF ASPIRE STUDENTS 

These students are being recognized for their academic achievement.  Grades 3‐6 Aspiring Students scored Procient  in RLA and Math within 25 points of Advanced in the Cali‐

fornia Standards Tests.  Grades 7‐12 Aspiring Students earned a cumula�ve grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 or higher in all       

academic areas, with no grade lower than a C, and scored Procient in RLA and Math in the CST and have passed the CAHSEE if they are 11th and 12th grade students.  

Lincoln Elementary Leeah Mae Jackson 

Ivory Lo�on Monica Mason Janice Short Keoni Temple Mariah Vaughn Samuel Williams Nahom Workneh 

 Mira Vista Elementary 

Chloe Canada James Fleetwood 

Andrew Hill Tzadiq Levi 

Yaniece Walker  

Nystrom Elementary Davon King Keira Legge� 

 Wilson Elementary Mitch Ganaway Alexa Kouame 

 DE ANZA HIGH SCHOOL  

FAMILY  

Bayview Elementary Jada Brown 

Elizabeth Hargrove Charnell Sa�erwhite 

 Crespi Middle School 

Kailah Thomas  

Highland Elementary Alijah Andrews Veter Baker 

Kamryn Daniels Xavier Green Ronald Huey 

Shale Lakhan Kayla Singleton Kadira Wilkins 

 Murphy Elementary 

Chekwumechuk Ashiedu Anthony Canton Ubong Abasi E�m 

Olinda Elementary Wayne Bailey Soliana Delelu Khari Johnson Marianna Love 

 Sheldon Elementary 

Jaynin Barrow Maleayah Benjamin Amaree Mar�n Kylan Pa�erson Britnee Stephen Corina Tanner Jayden White 

 Valley View Elementary 

Ayana DAlessio Geovanna Voto Bernales 

 EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL  

FAMILY  

Fairmont Elementary Airicka Hill 

Arielle Jackson Maiyah LaMar 

 Kensington Elementary 

Sophia Bartley Naomi Doherty Del Jordan 

 Madera Elementary 

Makenna Dean Nia Sabry 

 Washington Elementary 

Cassidy Clark Rayna Landry 

Malaysha Williams   

       

                                          

        

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RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY 

 Helms Middle School Biradater Adarkwah Samone Anderson 

Mailan Carr NiJzeL Dotson 

Ashanea Green Compton Daeja Irwin 

Anthony Lewis Esonia Morgan Kepa 

Danta Reed Rosalinda Robinson 

Gia Taylor  

Richmond High School Sherria Rice 

 Downer Elementary 

Dante Moore  

Lake Elementary Hawi Abraham 

Tenayah Crocke�  

Peres Elementary Maciyah Brown Jaelah Flagg Corinne Fuller Paris Levere� 

Jeweldari Mayweather Nacarre Turner Aiyana Wilker 

Verde Elementary Myrionna Crenshaw 

Kaaliyah Fluker Elohiym Mudaavanha 

  

PINOLE HIGH SCHOOL  FAMILY 

 Pinole Middle School Adesuwa Aigbuza 

Maame Ama Baah Arhin Khailah Ayroso‐Lunamcgee 

Jennifer Chinwuba LaLoni Dunn Armani Foster Jada Johnson Janet Ngallo Myra Nwosibe Kamillah Pollard James Williams 

 Collins Elementary 

Jiell Flowers Jaylin Kent 

John Robinson  

Montalvin Elementary Imun�nyan Aigbuza Cameron Moses Camille Rhodes 

   

Pinole High School Chris�ne Chinwuba Malachi Gonzales 

Deja Leach Kimberly Wilkerson 

 Shannon Elementary 

Joseph Nwosibe  

Tara Hills Elementary Anait Aliaga 

Anita Chinwuba  

Stewart K‐8 School Fabeah Boateng Serena Bradford Jayden Brandy 

Amanda Coleman Myron Gas�le Paloma Wood 

                

RECOGNITION OF STUDENTS OF HONOR 

These students are being recognized for their academic achievement.  Grades 3‐6 Students of Honor scored Advanced in RLA and Math in the California Standards Tests.  Grades 7‐12 Students of Honor earned a cumula�ve grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in all       

academic areas with no grade lower than a C, and scored Procient in RLA and Math in the CST and have passed the CAHSEE if they are 11th and 12th grade students.  

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HERCULES HIGH SCHOOL  FAMILY 

 Hercules Middle School 

Joanah Ajayi Mia Balabanis Monet Cooper Chyna Ellis 

Nathaniel Issayas Nathan Kesete Xavier Ma�hews Kennadi Roper Julius Shepherd Fela Williams 

 Hanna Ranch Elementary Kamiryn Braxton Grimes 

Kenneth Carthen Jackson Goudeau Tanner Goudeau Sanai Martens Kael McKenzie Dajante Mitchell Jasmine Turner Yokabed Yonas 

 Lupine Hills Elementary 

Amber Anderson Meron Fikru Irish Folds 

Dawit Tadesse  

Hercules High School Chris�an Abraham Tairi Buchanan Randi Dean 

Johanna Hadgu Marissa Lumsey Chidube Mekkam Ijeoma Mekkam Chidera Nwadike 

Lourdes Onwuemeka Elsie Melody Tape 

Middle College High School Kwame Baah Arhin Cynthia Ezeokoli Isaiah Green Saba Haile Sa Henson Ayana Hill Dennis Hill Jared Long Brian Moore 

Christopher Moore Brandon Price Dylan Ro�ch Andrea Webb Kalyn Williams 

 JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL 

FAMILY  

DeJean Middle School Danasia Allison Royale Davis Elyssa Morris Nikole Slaton 

Sylvester Wiggins  

Kennedy High School Khalil Milton 

 Coronado Elementary 

Malakhi DeMoss Jordan Muturi 

 Ford Elementary Bria Madison 

 King Elementary Cydni Harris 

Mariana Taylor Or�z  

Lincoln Elementary Jacqueline Daniels SaRyah McCord 

Hitarjanae Smith Julian Smith 

 Mira Vista Elementary 

Kyra Abrams Sanai Henderson Malala Tiana Pyle 

Nystrom Elementary Jc Gill 

Jordan Thomas  

Wilson Elementary Joseph Alvarez Layla Brown Israel Douglas Taylor Robinson Jermaine Terry Angel Weaver 

 DE ANZA HIGH SCHOOL 

FAMILY  

Crespi Middle School Aaron Burton Pashance Davis D Andrea Farrell Taisia Fleming Alycia Flowers Sharon Jackson Khiari Neal 

Bemister Tessema Bailey Ward 

Mykela Warren Yahna Williamson 

 Highland Elementary Laweryn Henderson 

Hailey Lewis Darren Robinson Keli i Salvador 

   

Murphy Elementary Dakota Harris 

Daevaughn Lucas  

Olinda Elementary Weldon Miles Reyna Taylor Sarah Tesfaye Kelaya Young 

 Sheldon Elementary Evangela Ahenguah 

Charles Davis Marium Emmons 

Meliyah King Lankford Griffi  

Valley View Elementary Jaylen Brown 

Taliya Gosse� Salahudeen Samir Jacob Nailah Smith 

Giuliana Voto Bernales Asha Walker 

 De Anza High School Keomi Barksdale Tierra Bright Ellice Chess 

  

EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY 

 Portola Middle School 

Chandani Ba�le Ajani Braggs Sara Coleman Ama Dadzie 

Josephine Ough Karl Sierte 

Athena Whitney  

Fairmont Elementary Jelani Adams Nana Dadzie 

Des�nee McDaniel Cash Stokley Sione Vuki 

 Harding Elementary 

Nana Yansane  

Madera Elementary Alexis Burens�ne Benjamin Bustos Tristan Bustos 

Caden Co�on Blake Kira Denson Azusa James Bianca Pagel 

 Kensington Elementary 

Josephine Flood Celia Lenear Ondieki Maina Miles Turman 

Cullen Wilkerson  

Stege Elementary Sheila Kariuki 

 Washington Elementary 

Atallah Allen Ari Alleyne 

Bella Chavez Jackson Karl Collins Alana Davis 

An�one Finley Selena Hairston Amitra Kellogg Isaiah Landry 

Savannah Qualls Monsieur Roberts Xavier Simmons 

El Cerrito High School Oyinkansola AJayi Xavia Andrews Keara Bailey William Bell 

Samantha Burnell Dziga Djugba KeLa Jones 

Kenyon Mason Alexis Miller Sydney Nobles Monica Ramsey Leah Seyoum Janele Thomas Neziah Whitson Ciara Wilson Sekou Yansane 

RECOGNITION OF 4.0 STUDENTS 

These students are being recognized for their academic achievement.  They represent WCCUSD Middle and High School African American Students with a grade point average of 4.0 in all academic subject areas through the third quarter of 2013‐2014. 

Crespi Middle School 

Taisia Fleming Bemister Tessema 

Bailey Ward Yahna Williamson 

DeJean Middle School 

Elyssa Morris  

De Anza High School Ellice Chess 

El Cerrito High School 

Samantha Burnell Alexis Miller Leah Seyoum Ciara Wilson 

Helms Middle School 

Biradater Adarkwah NiJzeL Dotson 

 

Hercules High School Chris�an Abraham Chidera Nwadike 

Hercules Middle School 

Mia Balabanis Chyna Ellis 

Fela Williams 

Mira Vista  Elementary Kyra Abrams 

Pinole Middle School 

Maame Ama Baah LaLoni Dunn Jada Johnson 

Portola Middle School 

Karl Sierte 

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

Booker T. Washington

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Juneteenth Parade WCCUSD African American Scholars

June 28, 2014 Dear Parents/Guardians,

Congratulations to all Students of Honor and Aspire Students! The West Contra Cos-ta Unified School District (WCCUSD), The Neighborhood Block Association (NBA), Chevron and the City of Richmond would like to invite you and your child to partici-pate in the Juneteenth Parade as part of the WCCUSD- African American Scholars Delegation on Saturday, June 28th, 2014. The scholars will walk in the parade that starts on Marina Way and Cutting Blvd in Richmond. You and your family are also welcome to join us at the Juneteenth Festival following the Parade at Nicholl Park. A letter and phone reminder will be sent to you as the date approaches, we hope you can join us. For more information on the day’s events please visit www.richmondcajuneteenth.org.

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  

  

 

 

West Contra Costa USD Board Charles T. Ramsey‐ President 

Todd A. Groves‐ Clerk Randall Enos 

Madeline Kronenberg Elaine R. Merriweather 

 

Honorary Commi�ee Bob Evans‐ De Anza High School Principal 

Antoine�e Henry–Evans‐ Execu�ve Director, Rtd. Latressa Alford‐ Congressman George Miller’s Office 

Sonja Neely‐Johnson‐ WCCUSD Ed. Services Coordinator  

United Teachers of Richmond  

Richmond Associates of School Administrators  

4Richmond  

Event Co‐Sponsor Na�onal Pan‐Hellenic Council San Francisco Bay Area Chapter 

       

Administra�ve Staff Dr. Bruce Harter, Superintendent 

Wendell Greer, Associate Superintendent of K‐12 Opera�ons Marin Trujillo, Community Engagement Coordinator