District of Columbia Public Schools
Muriel Bowser Mayor
Paul Kihn
Deputy Mayor for Education
Dr. Lewis Ferebee Chancellor
Jerry Jellig
Instructional Superintendent
DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
45th Annual Commencement Ceremony Duke Ellington School of the Arts 3500 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Saturday, June 20, 2020 3:00 p.m.
Co-Founders
Peggy Cooper Cafritz Mike Malone
Chief Executive Officer
Tia Powell Harris Principal
Sandi Logan Chief Financial Officer
Anne Marie Logue Director of Academic Instruction
Vanessa Snyder Director of Arts
Angela Jones Director of Administrative Operations
Jay Walker Director of Student Affairs
Donna Hollis Director of Operations & Collaborative Projects
Jevelle Branch Director of Enrollment & Educational Partnerships
Savannah R. Overton Director of Development, The Ellington Fund
Christiana Diamond
Senior Class Officers Senior Class Sponsors Sydney Forrester Wilson, President Donna Hollis Ayiana Davis Polen, Vice President Tiffany Jackson
Jory Holmes, Vice President Angela Jones Chloe Griffin, Secretary Marquis Mathis Kayla McCann & Giselle Varre, Treasurer Nicolas Ojeda Amir Gray, Sergeant of Arms Savannah Overton
Charise Shaw
Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project Partners District of Columbia Public Schools
The Ellington Fund The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The George Washington University The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project is an independently operated public school in partnership with the D.C. Public Schools, George Washington University, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and The Ellington Fund. At Ellington, a college preparatory and arts focused high school, students specialize in Dance, Instrumental Music, Literary Media and Communications, Museum Studies, Technical Design & Production, Theatre, Visual Arts, & Vocal Music. The Ellington Fund was founded in 1978, and serves as the independent 501(c)3 fundraising arm of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. For information on tax-deductible contributions to Ellington call 202.299.5663. Charles Barber, DESAP Board President Kevette Burwell, Alumni Association President Ari Q. Fitzgerald, Ellington Fund Board President Howard Wilson, SHADE President School Home Association of Duke Ellington
45th COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY PROGRAM
Processional Pomp and Circumstance
March No. 1 op. 39 By Edward Elgar
Duke Ellington School of the Arts Orchestra (2019 Recording) Conducted by Isaac Daniel
The Star Spangled Banner Traditional
Arranged by Take 6 Norman Brentley, flute
Welcome Sandi Logan, Principal
TDP Presentation Feelings and Visions Through the Lens of An Artist
photography and editing by Amir Gray Kiamsha Tate, Keris Richmond, Pierre Kearney
Greetings from the Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor Visual Arts Presentation
Vision Express Animation by Piankhi Zimmerman
Salutatorian Address Isabel Rebora Vocal Music Selections
Zueignung by Richard Strauss
Kianna Kelly-Futch, Soprano
Del cabello mas sutil by Fernando Obradors
Maya McGuire, Soprano Valedictorian Address Melody Flores Instrumental Music Selection
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in A Major IV Allegretto poco mosso
Composed by Cesar Franck Melody Flores, violin
Ellington Fund and Special Awards Charles Barber, DESAP Board President
Zachary Cafritz
Introduction of Commencement Speaker Dance Performance
Rain on Us Music by Earnest Pugh
Choreographed by J’adore Loftin performed by the Class of 2020 Dancers
‘ Commencement Address Michaela Angela Davis Image Activist, Writer, Producer & Cultural Commentator
Mayor’s Address Mayor Muriel Bowser Theatre Presentation
Knock Knock By Daniel Beaty
Performed by Jory Holmes
Awarding of Diplomas & Sandi Logan, Principal Acceptance of Class of 2020 Jerry Jellig, Instructional Superintendent Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor Celebrity Words & Alumni Congratulations
Denyce Graves Mezzo-Soprano, Ellington Alumna
Kevin Ross
Recording Artist, Ellington Alumnus CEO Salute Kelli Anderson, Digital Media Specialist Final Thoughts Tia Powell Harris, CEO Recessional
Glory Written by John Legend, Common, and Rhymefest
A special thank you to the Director Angela Jones and
Technical Design & Production Department:
Nicole Leonard, TDP Department Chair Tony Starnes, A/V Supervisor
Thom Woodward, Audio Engineer
Thank you to our Ellington faculty, staff, SHADE, and other community members for contributions to our Senior Events. Thank you to the Equal Justice Initiative and Bryan
Stevenson for the donation of Just Mercy books. We Love You Madly!
Michaela Angela Davis Commencement Speaker
Michaela Angela Davis is an Image Activist,
Writer, Producer & Cultural Commentator. She’s
been honored by NAACP, UNCF, The City of NY
and others for her work expanding the narrow and
inaccurate narratives of women of color in
mainstream media. She was the only Executive
Fashion, Beauty & Culture Editor at Essence, the
first Fashion Director at Vibe and the last Editor in
Chief at Honey magazines. She has written widely
about gender, race, fashion, culture, beauty &
identity. Michaela is a conversationalist. She’s
taken conversations to France, South Africa, India,
Australia New Zealand and more. She’s facilitated
conversations on leading campus’ and television
networks-ABC, MSNBC & BBC. Michaela was
the editorial lead on the Promax Gold Award
winning rebrand of Centric TV, “The First
Network Designed For Black Women”. She’s
created promotional and social campaigns for
major media networks, beauty and lifestyle brands
and organizations (P&G, Unilever, BET, PPFA) She was a premiere commentator on CNN’s AC360/Later,
and seen regularly across the global network. She is the creator of MAD FREE a creative content, cultural
and community connecting service. Her active projects include “The Hair Tales” with Tracee Ellis Ross a
docuseries known as “The Vagina Monologues for Black Hair” The pilot of mobile mini docs starring
Regina King, Tasha Smith, Patrisse Cullors, Amanda Seales & Kim Coles premiered to broad critical
acclaim. The House of Hair is an experiential and performance space-an extension of her work using hair
as an organizing principle to tell stories of Black Women’s culture and identity. Davis produced a
documentary series on the historic Broadway show Eclipsed featuring Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira
airing in 100 countries. She is currently writing with Mariah Carey on a memoir of her identity. She is the
proud mother of Elenni Davis-Knight.
DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Class of 2020 Post-Secondary Plan
At Ellington, achievement is recognized in many ways. We are pleased to list the following post-secondary plans for which the Class of 2020 members have designated. Collectively, the Class of 2020
have been awarded over $10.6 million in college scholarships and grants.
Adair, Ayriana University of Nevada-Las Vegas Adams, Kayla Bowie State University Adams, Timothy New York University
Allen, Amira Undecided Anderson, Atiya Undecided Anderson, Grady Undecided Anderson, Trinity New York University Bailey, Tyler York College of Pennsylvania Barnes, Angel Grambling State University Barr, Lyle Undecided Basile, Talli Rutgers University- New Brunswick
Berdy, Emma Virginia Commonwealth University Black, Aylia West Virginia Wesleyan College Blanco-Figueroa, Jazmyn Syracuse University
Boozer, Jahnell The University of the Arts Brown, Christian Undecided Brown, Pernell Morgan State University Bryan-Barnes, Madison George Mason University Buchanan, Amari Norfolk State University
Burkett, Austin Berklee College of Music Carrington, Amonie Undecided Chaney, Eric The University of the Arts
Clark, Gabrielle Fashion Institute of Technology Clarke, Tariq Savannah College of Art of Design Clisham-Parsons, Nicholas Radford University Coffer-Bryant, Jordan University of Southern California Crossen, Miniya Virginia Commonwealth University Davis Pollen, Ayiana Spelman College Delgado-Llanos, Andrea School of the Art Institute of Chicago Diggs, Nike Alabama State University
Donaldson, I’mani Delaware State University Douglas, Janiya Alabama State University Duarte, Davida Catholic University of America
Echevarria, Pablo SUNY at Purchase College Epps, Makayla West Virginia Wesleyan College Estes, D’mya West Virginia Wesleyan College Evans, Arnedja Trinity Washington University Flores, Melody McGill University
Flowers, Marteka Temple University Forrester-Wilson, Sydney University of Illinois at Chicago Forte, Asa Syracuse University
Gatling, Niyah Montgomery College Gibbs, Denzel West Virginia Wesleyan College Gilliam, Tyree Georgia State University Gray, Amir Temple University Griffin, Chloe Savannah College of Art of Design Hackett, Robert Undecided Hall, Keyara Undecided Harris, Milan James Madison University
Hausey, Jay Undecided Haythe, Kesaundra Florida Memorial University Henderson, Adarius University of Wyoming
Henson, Kameron University of North Carolina at Asheville Herbert, Autumn Frostburg State University
Hicks, Anaya Spelman College Holmes, Jory Columbia College Chicago Horton, Imani Mount Saint Mary College
Hwang, Jonah University of Miami Isaac, Kai Savannah College of Art and Design Jackson, Raylen Georgia State University
Jackson, Wynter Virginia Commonwealth University James, Chacajua Savannah College of Art and Design Kahiga, Tyvone University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Kearney, Pierre Undecided Kelly-Futch, Kianna Manhattan School of Music Lampkin, Jalyn Bowie State University Lockett, Julian Employed Loftin, J’adore Spelman College Lowe, Taje Delaware State University Marin, Carla Maryland Institute College of Art McCann, Kayla North Carolina A&T State University
McGuire, Maya University of Cincinnati Miller, Akilah The Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University Mills, Deja Clark Atlanta University Moats, Grady Columbia College Chicago Moore, Bailey George Washington University
Moore, Caleb University of Maryland Global Campus Moran, Stephanie University of the District of Columbia Moreno-Acero, Karen
Undecided
Morgan, Stefan Exceptional Minds Morsell, Nailah The University of the Arts Mueller, Lauren The University of the Arts Myers, Kennedy School of Visual Arts Namoro, Rania Maryland Institute College of Art
Nash, Elson Amiri Brown University Nichols, Kai Michigan State University O’Brien, Siobhan Emerson College
Orzulak, Eleanor SUNY at Purchase College Perry, Jerome Undecided Phillips-Quigley, Emmani Florence Academy of Art
Poindexter, Kierra Temple University Price, Karma Rutgers University- New Brunswick Pruden, Simone Xavier University of Louisiana Rahman, Nyla Spelman College Rebora, Isabel DePaul University
Richmond, Donovan University of Hartford, Connecticut Richmond, Keris The University of the Arts Robinson, Anna Antioch College
Sabahi, Sebastian Berklee College of Music Sanchez-Cruz, Noemi Trinity Washington University
Savoy, Terrell Virginia State University Scott, Cassidy Old Dominion University Singleton, Marcus Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising – Los Angeles
Smith, Amari Spelman College Smith, Daniel Howard Community College Snotherly, Nicolai Brown University Standard, Ashley George Washington University Stewart, Alyse Undecided
Tate, Kiamsha LIM College Travers, Mitchell Savannah College of Art of Design Varre, Giselle Montclair State University Vaughn, De’Seaun Employed Villaflor, Jensen University of Hawaii Wade, John University of Miami
Walton, Ronald University of the District of Columbia Community College West, Skyy Prairie View A & M University
Whitley, Courtney Towson University Whitworth, Logan California Institute of the Arts Williams, Jada Virginia State University
Williams, James Wake Forest University Wimpye, Brandi Virginia Commonwealth University
Post-secondary plan is based on documentation given to senior counselor, as of 6/17/20
InRemembranceof Co-Founders
MikeMalone&PeggyCooperCafritz