AAREA's 22nd Annual Student Achievement & Excellence Awards: Digital Program by R.T. Fisher Educational Enterprises

Sunday, May 31st, 2026 Chabot

Welcome to The Awards

Program Contents

Calling of the Drums

The Black National Anthem Welcome

Awards Presentation Transition Acknowledgment & Blessing

Senior Celebration & Blessing

Closing Appreciations & Acknowledgments

To mark over two decades of student brilliance, we gather together as a community to celebrate Black Excellence in one massive, triumphant event outscaling each ceremony to come before. We gather around the flame of brilliance and achievement that lights up the current and future leaders in the African American student community, honoring outstanding accomplishments of hundreds in 2025–2026, and thousands since 2004.

The Awards Categories

Academic Excellence

This category recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in academics through achieving and maintaining a minimum 3.5 grade point average (or the equivalent Proficiency Level for elementary students).

Academic Potential & Success

This category recognizes the drive and determination needed to improve one’s academic experience and recognizes the student who has demonstrated resilience, growth and commitment to higher academic performance.

The Student Achievement and Excellence Awards were created to encourage African American students and their families to strive and achieve. To learn more about this annual celebration, visit www. theaarea.org.

Cultural Leadership & Civic Involvement

This category recognizes the student who demonstrates an intangible quality which uplifts their community and is engaged in various leadership and/or civic activities in their school, church or community.

This category recognizes the student who has made a contribution to the visual/graphics and performing arts in their school or community. This category also includes videography, photography, graphic and web design.

Visual, Graphic & Performing Arts

Lift Every Voice And Sing

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a beloved poem and song penned by Harlem Renaissance writer James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson. It speaks joyfully about the hope and resilience of Black people transcending the enslavement and discrimination of the past and celebrating freedom.

The song was first publicly performed by 500 children for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th, 1900, at a Jacksonville, Florida school where James Weldon Johnson was principal.

In 1919, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) dubbed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” the “Negro National Anthem,” for its power in voicing a cry for liberation and affirmation for African American people. Its lyrics not only honor the triumphs and sacrifices of the past, but also inspire collective action and progress for the future.

In the photo above: Sculptor Augusta Savage working on a piece titled “Lift Every Voice and Sing” or “The Harp,” commissioned for the 1939 World’s Fair.

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.

Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand.

True to our God, True to our native land.

Antioch Unified School District

Deer Valley High School

Amanda Brown Berkeley Unified School District

Berkeley High School

Jahzara Bey

Corina Blanton

Dasaun Brown

Suseja Jones

Rashawd Lane Jones

Jacob Platt

Carina Thomas

Berkeley Technology Academy

Neveah Coker

Corde Cole

Koreia Colston

Ameer McCrary

Emerson Elementary School

Hiyab Asres

Devorah Roberson

Joseph Solomon

Longfellow Middle School

Mamady Bangoura

Ronnell Beamon

Joka Brown

Mason Cooper

Jamaar Cotright

Darriana Dorsey

Naima Douglas

Elisha Garrett

Zaria Goff

Christian Hailu

Madizen Hardin

Your Majesty Harlan

Faith Howard

Skyy Ilyas

Mylei Jamison

Xochi Johnson

Ahzaree Mouton

Sophia Sinclair

Wesley Singletary

Justin Surratt

Donte Washington

Madyson Willis

Malcolm X Elementary School

Melissa Bangoura

Summiyah Bess

Marcel Blanco

Isaiah Broussard

Sydney Cirelli

Ejae Elder

Marcus Ellison

Isaiah Knox

Kingston Lennan

Nile McManus

Jordan McManus

Cesar Prieto

Abigail Teklay

Nahier Tesfagabir

Genesis Walker

Isreal Wiggins

Kodi Williams

Rachel Rose Wilson

Martin Luther King Jr.

Middle School

Tiffany Brass

Ashley (AJ) Porter IV

Ha’Dyran Royer

Oxford Elementary School

Dallas Kellogg

Slyvia Mendez Elementary School

Savannah Breland

Ian Fulmer

Stella Harrison

Kobe Hickman

Jaden King

Princess Robinson

William Robinson

Thousand Oaks Elementary School

Jalie Dixon

Ellington Flewellen

Marley Greer

Lincoln Maldonado

Li’eria Ousborn

Fern Redman

Aaron Starks

Ada Thaniel

Elijah Tom-Williams

Kai Wright

Black Pine Circle School

Kinsley Sanni

Campbell Union

School

District

Rosemary Elementary School

Addison Cannon Castro Valley Unified School District

Canyon Middle School

Kaleb Abraha

Isaiah Atcherson

Austin Burton

Kayelah Cain

Jessa Campuzano

Amari Devera

LeBrando Kingston Douglass

John Edwards IV

Karo Gebre

Nia Green

Dior Hamilton

Sophie Harris

Kaui Hassel

Xavier James

Kenneth Jones

Malia Kucala

Melea Landry

Isabella Lucero

Kaleo Malbrough

Adon Mikael

Miles Mitchell

Romy Ndje Soho

Rylee Proctor

Joseph Rodgers

Ataya Skinner

Julianna Steele

Anaya Teclemariam

Michael Torrey

Kloe Williams

Creekside Middle School

Ryder Fong

Sabrina Frisby

Isabelle Harris

Leah Maxie

Liem Seaton

Maxwell Webb

Palomares Elementary School

Daandii Keno

Stanton Elementary School

Amélie Bryan

Justice Deboe-Johnson

Dublin Unified School District

TVROP Middle College High School at Las Positas College

Cadence Machicado

Wells Middle School

Andrew Smith

Envision Education

City Arts and Leadership Academy

Sammy Ayala

Impact Academy High School of Arts and Technology

Malawn Hawkins

Syncere McDowell

Evergreen Elementary School District

O.B. Whaley Elementary School

King Burton

Fremont Unified School District

Centerville Middle School

Olivia Edwards

Gateway To College

Lehgen Merritt

Hayward Unified School District

Bret Harte Middle School

Tionna Bailey

Raine Bates

Vincent Bourdon

Lauren Brewer

Kianna Brooks

Janelle Brown

Jayden Cotton

Dominic Demerson

Christian-Jaedon Eskridge

Walter D. Fryar IV

Cadence Jackson

Maliyah Jackson

Malik Jefferson

Kenyata King

Zinnia Lewis

Faith Martin

Kaden Modise

Ashanti Nasir

Kenneth Rasberry

Joseph Stafford

The Awards celebration would not be possible without the involvement of family, faculty, and community members who support and inspire scholars to succeed!

Isyss Thompson

Travis Torres

Ronshae ‘Kobe’ Walker

Narico Ward

Burbank Elementary School

Anthony Hearne

Devon Jackson

Mason Seguro Williams

Cesar Chavez Middle School

A’Laia Aikens

Gift Chibueze

Joshua Dadjo

‘Caton Jaylen

Nathan Obanyl

Ethan Tekie

East Avenue Elementary School

Alyssa Bennett

Joseph Scognamiglio

Eldridge Elementary School

Arthur Walker

Fairview Elementary School

Ryder Allen

Jacari Allums

Kennedy Beverly

Isabelle Brooks

Ivory Conley

Riley Fields

We gather to uplift and encourage our scholars as they triumph over the challenges of academic transition and soar to exciting new heights in their journey.

Jahzara Fox

Zion Irvin

LeJames Newell

Bailey Singer

Briana Smith

Aliena Waters

Hayward High School

Safi Bisimwa

Malayah Boganey

Junior Brown

Peyton Amaya Cotton

Sir Gabriel Gabourel

Malik Govan

Maurice Hall

Javohn Hamilton

Ava Hourel Flores

Nalajh Irvin

Neyajh Irvin

Cory McDonald

London Reed

George Malcom Senegal

Alaia Smith

Ja’kye Smith

Kimone Williams

Avery Wolfe

Mt. Eden High School

Jessica Alvarez

Harmoni Baker

Shatoria Best

Mason Blakely

Lelanie Brown

Destiny Carr

Jabot Dixon

Brian Egwuatu

Donae Finley

Lamont Finley

Cornneyah Godfrey

Shawnice Godfrey

Akira Green

Jason Henry

Joanna Henry

Jalil Johnson

Jeannell Kawolo

Stanley Keith

Marcellus Montgomery

Omotola Odusina

Penelope Reed

Lyric Sanders

Tae’Oni Stevenson

Armon Ward

Stonebrae Elementary School

Pearl Beaty

Nalani Braggs

My’Ahn Brown

D’moni Daley

Maxwell Hurts II

Tennyson High School

Eghemwen Ehiorobo

Ebube Obiukwu

Montrell Rice

Adrian Robinson

Winton Middle School

Lesley Hubbard

Nailah Johnson

Rashied Omar

Head-Royce School

Luna Smith

Noa Smith

KIPP King Collegiate High School

Amina Brown

Marcus Davis

Elburra Eisa

Amira Forte

Ataliana’Bella Giordano

Alessandro Robles

Joshua Watkins

Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District

Granada High School

Susie Beamon

Nya Duncan

Natnael Leary

Lawrence Elementary School

Simone Revels

Livermore High School

Carla Araujo

Bridget Belfield

Chloe Blas

Juan Castillo Gomez

Marisela Jones

Jules Lee

Carter Mac Intosh

Jordan Murray

Keylan Orr-Ellis

Apache Sims

TVROP Middle College

High School at Las

Positas College

Amerie Allen

Sam Walker

Muhammad School of Islam

Tarik Oaks Jr.

New Haven Unified

School

District

Alvarado Elementary School

Bryce Brown

Yemane (Ezra) Dirar

Isabella James

Gaia Kim

Ezechial Smith

Zayda Ward

Conley Caraballo Alternative High School

Soloman Arrey

Imani McCall

Janelle Mitchell

Tom Kitayama Elementary School

Nia Janae Acquaah-Arhin

Oakland Diocese

St. Leander School

Ian Brown

Oakland Unified

School

District

Oakland Military Institute College

Preparatory Academy

Micah Correa

Daevion Odom

Aniyah Taylor

Oakland Unity Middle School

Christabel Achinulo

Zoey August

Alex Bailey

Aria Bell

Raul Bonilla

Fierre Hill

Jhourden Mitchell

Piedmont City Unified School District

Millennium High School

Adrian Bush

Saniyah Johnson

Sa’Mara Levi

Michael Martin Jr

Ilias Mueller-Harley

Piedmont High School

Nathan Bekele

Nico French

Piedmont Middle School

D’kayla Daniels

Alex Turman

Ava Ubaka

Pleasanton Unified School District

Amador Valley High School

Aren Case

Elah Case

Andie Edwards

Foothill High School

Madison Lee

Hart Middle School

Da’Myah Harden

TVROP Middle College

High School at Las Positas College

Andie Edwards

Julian Johnson

Mofetijesu Oyewole

Valley View Elementary School

Adriel Aldridge

Saint Mary’s College High School

Timothy Hamp II

San Leandro Unified School District

Bancroft Middle School

Lawrence Ackland Snow

Elijah Acosta

Aakash Anderson

Izrell Andrews

Chioma Anuonye

Tristan Beal

Maliah Best

Malayia Booker

Za’Kari Buchanan

Zamora Bullock

Xiomara Castillon

Christian Cutno

Alvin Duah-Adutwum

Esther Ekpenyong

Xavier Elias Frazier

Nshira Eshun

Naomi Gaim

Reagan Hathorn

Aleeana Henry

Grace Hurts

Tysean Kelley

Lavarr Lewis Jr.

Etsub Liben

Lehasa Moloi

Ezinne Nwadike

Taniyah Odom

Chioma Offu

Precious Oghogho

Ethan Rivera

Raen Shin

Za’riyah Simmons

Francois Sonnier

Darcel Stoner

Jude Tatai

John Urbina Pena

Aniyah Valdez

Mishawwn Walters

Prince White

Garfield Elementary School

Anaya Jones

Peyton Williams

Halkin Elementary School

Oluwadarasimi Akinlolu

Ryder Baker-Lynch

DeAndre Montgomery

Ivan Murray

Anuoluwapo Ogunro

Anthony Payne

James Madison Elementary School

Valentino Bennett

Kesley Krieger

JaeVion Oliphant

Matthew Watson

James Monroe Elementary School

Legacy Turner

Jefferson Elementary School

Bailee Holmes

John Muir Middle School

Kena Abera

Matthew Al Sabur

Alayah Alberty

Nael Berhane

Charlotte Betty

Yessibella Carranza

Brandi Gaskin

Nicole Ginikanwa

Lulama Mitileni

Muez Mohamed

Brook Tsegay

Joyce Tshimanga

McKinley Elementary School

Desi Abera

Xavier Lefour

Geniyah Menefee

Kamron Moore

Anais Olivares

Darnell Watson

San Leandro High School

Jordyn Ammons

Jayce Barnes

Aryhanna Brooks

Teighlor Brown

Aaliyah Cain

Akilah Dawkins

Izuchukwu Udemezue

Larry Young

San Leandro Virtual Academy

Yadiel Abraham

Johnathan Servine

Washington Elementary School

Kyra Brown

Abigail Dupart

Daniel Johnson

Khali Moore

Lucas Moore

Camila Rafaela

Jakai Shabazz

Jessie Fay Williams

San Lorenzo Unified School District

Arroyo High School

Alexa Adutwum

Bay Elementary School

Langston Green

Bohannon Middle School

Tyrell Bamba

Maurice Hedgepeth

Elisha McFarland

Lorenzo Scott

Camila Sigur

East Bay Arts High School

MaKai Higgins

Edendale Middle School

Remiel Bickham

NaVeah Brown

Romelo Butler

Levonte Cole

Ti’yana Davis

Jayden Maggard

Jaire McKinney

Celestine Morgane

Astarie Murphy

Raina Obikwelu

Amillyana Posey

Aroyal Rogers

Nathaniel Taylor

Amir Tillman

Ja’Niyah Valentine

Ki’re Walker

Grant Elementary School

Sa’Davion Brock

Yanerie Philippe

Hesperian Elementary School

Maurice Aubry

Adrian Badilla

Jayvyn Ison

Kyrel Styles

Aarielle Tillman

Jarrell Wingfield

Hillside Elementary School

Semira Alfred

Francis Comerford

Amir Kellogg

Nalani Lintz

Lorenzo Manor Elementary School

Madison Harston

Jayvyn Huges

Eleia Latchison

Phoenix Martin

Temporal Nathan

Holli Norbert

San Lorenzo High School

Arlita Bailey

Mika Cervantes

Kingsley Eneh

Destiny Finley

Mariah Hampton

MaR’Case Irvin

Masiya Lowman

Travis McKnight

Francois Miessi

Eziafa Nwankwo

Hafsatu Savage

Alaina Wilkins

Washington Manor Middle School

Aiden Cabral

Zillyan Chastang

Isaac Michael

Ryann Mickles

Brioney Roy

The greater AAREA community extends heartfelt congratulations to all the brilliant, resilient, and strong scholars honored at the 22nd Annual Student Achievement and Excellence Awards!

The following Honorees have received a heartfelt congratulations from the supporters in their lives!

Son, whenever you put Christ ﬁrst in your life, you can do anything you want to do. Me, your sister, and your brothers are proud to see you graduate. Don’t ever quit! We will always love you.

– Mom and your siblings

“I

can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.”

Philippians 4:13

Sa’Davion Brock Grant Elementary San Lorenzo Uniﬁed School District

Langston,

We are so proud of you your achievement shines like a bright new star. Receiving the African American Regional Educational Alliance Award for Academic Potential and Success is more than an honor; it is a reﬂection of your spirit, your eﬀort, and the promise you carry within you. Your future glows with possibility, and we are grateful to cheer you on as you rise, learn, and become all that you are meant to be.

Love always, Dad, Mom, Brother Tre, and Sister Lael