High School Leadership Awards Ceremony 2025 Program

National Constitution Center

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 — 7:00–9:30 am

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 2025 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,

Stacey M. Robertson, PhD President, Widener University

High School Leadership Awards Ceremony

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

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

Opening Remarks

Impact Remarks

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

National Constitution Center Grand Hall Overlook

Tracy Davidson Anchor, NBC10

Stacey Robertson, PhD President, Widener University

Laura Wallon

HSLA Award Recipient & Apogee Scholar

Michael Corcoran, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychology, Widener University

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

Laura Wallon

HSLA Award Recipient & Apogee Scholar

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

Stacey Robertson, PhD 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 the “Hero Award” from the 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—further exemplifying her dedication to uplifting the community.

Keynote Speaker Biography

Dr. Michael Corcoran, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Widener University

Michael Corcoran, MAIOP, PHD is a proud first-generation college graduate and Widener alumnus. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Widener, where his interest in psychology was first sparked, setting the foundation for his academic and professional journey. After graduating from Widener, Dr. Corcoran earned his M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from West Chester University before completing his PhD in Social and Personality Psychology under the advisement of Ken Sheldon at the University of Missouri (Mizzou). His research interests and teaching philosophy reflect his varied background and experiences: diverse with applications in both theoretical and applied areas.

Building on this multidisciplinary foundation, Dr. Corcoran’s pedagogy is centered on inclusiveness, engagement and empowerment. His classroom is treated as an inclusive community built through common goals of learning, applying and becoming better each day. It is a space where students are engaged through multiple methods, through personally relevant topics and through enthusiasm; and it is a space where students are empowered to become better learners, to find their love of psychology and to channel their personal voice and experience.

Dr. Corcoran engages students in psychological theory and research by incorporating concepts and topics they find personally interesting. He fosters and encourages students to take a critical eye on the information they are consuming and develop the skills to think and act “like a social scientist”. In this way, they always bring research findings, theory and concepts into the real world: bridging coursework to their lives. This teaching and mentoring style facilitates students to find their personal path, whether that be an applied focus, a research focus or something entirely different!

In his free time, Dr. Corcoran loves working out, cooking and baking, engaging in artistic pursuits, watching movies, reading books, debating frivolous topics, spending time with family and playing with his dog named Maple.

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 134 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 have access to a leadership development program where they can build their leadership skills through a variety of on-campus activities.

ADAMS COUNTY

Award Winners

Delone Catholic High School, Jaquelyn Martinez

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Holy Spirit High School, Lauren Cella

BERKS COUNTY

Antietam High School, Angel Bueno-Cruz

Hamburg Area High School, Connor Rex

Oley Valley Senior High School, Ava Walters

Exter Township Senior High School, Valenny Germosen Sanchez

Pine Forge Academy, Joshuwa Martin

Daniel Boone Area Senior High School, Jordan Palladino

BUCKS COUNTY

William Tennent High School, Madeline Swenson

Palisades High School, Alexia Lopez

Pennsbury High School, Jasper Stackawitz

Villa Joseph Maria High School, Juliana Warshaw

Holy Ghost Preparatory High School, O’Bryan Pierre

Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, Andrew Haney

New Hope-Solebury High School, Matteo Cademartori

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Bordentown Regional High School, Nadiea Mohsin

Burlington City High School, Ayaat Alim

Burlington Township High School, Dylan Lantigua

Cherokee High School, Gabrielle Bruno

Cinnaminson High School, Evellyn Souza-Silva

Holy Cross Preparatory Academy, Joseph Flanagan

Life Center Academy, Rachel Cossabone

Award Winners

Moorestown Friends School, Benjamin Buchdahl

Northern Burlington County Regional High School, Sophia Hogas

Riverside High School, Lilyan Bryski

CAMDEN COUNTY

Audubon High School, Kylie Tocco

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Andrew Passalacqua

Camden Catholic High School, Angelina Martinez

Collingswood High School, Chloe McDevitt

Gloucester City High School, Olivia Kirschner

Haddon Township High School, Anna Balogh

Haddonfield Memorial High School, Addison Super

CAPE MAY COUNTY

Ocean City High School, Joseph Heng

Wildwood Catholic Academy, Olive Cray

CARBON COUNTY

Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Taylor Eckhart

Weatherly High School, McKenna Gerhard

CHESTER COUNTY

Avon Grove Charter School, Gianna Eagles

B. Reed Henderson High School, Evan Szilier

Bishop Shanahan High School, Joshua Zahner

Church Farm School, Emmanuel Parsons

Conestoga High School, Ofure Abhulimen

Coventry Christian Schools, Adelaide McHale

Delaware Valley Friends School, Jazmin Johnson

Downingtown STEM Academy, Carly Kulp

Great Valley High School, Aridai Mendoza Rojas

Award Winners

Oxford Area High School, Denise Gould

Unionville High School, Avery Kenworthy

Valley Forge Military Academy, Andrew Tuturice

Villa Maria Academy High School, Maggie McHale

West Chester East High School, Gabriella Alex

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Cumberland Christian School, Alyssa Wnorowski

Cumberland Regional High School, Maahishee Patel

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Milton Hershey School, Maame Asante

DELAWARE COUNTY

Archbishop John Carroll High School, Patrick Grow

Cardinal O’Hara High School, James Smith

Harriton High School, Sophia Dong

Haverford High School, Maya Lewis

Interboro High School, Addison Birney

Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Daniel Goldstein

Marple Newtown High School, Ashley Avicolli

Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School, Tewabch Worku

Ridley High School, Sarod Minor

Springfield High School, Charlotte Peterkin

Strath Haven High School, Guixin Zhang

Sun Valley High School, Luke DiLorenzo

The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Shelby Parker

The Christian Academy, Kasanna Womack

Upper Darby High School, Vy Boa Lam

ESSEX COUNTY

Award Winners

Immaculate Conception High School, Ivy Arevalo

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Clayton High School, Juson Stewart

Gateway Regional High School, Kimberly Burt

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Holly Salmon

Washington Township High School, Andrea Cardamone

KENT COUNTY

Polytech High School, Kylie VanHorn

Smyrna High School, Gabriella Charles

LEHIGH COUNTY

Emmaus High School, Clara Isom

Emmaus HS, Logan Armstrong

Salisbury High School, Soledad Lausch

Southern Lehigh High School, Sydney Young

MERCER COUNTY

Mercer County Technical School-Sypek, Madison Ko

Steinert High School, Cole Csolak

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Jenkintown High School, Luke Rocco

La Salle College High School, Shea Crawford

Lansdale Catholic High School, Braeden Bussman

Merion Mercy Academy, Shayla Adams

Norristown Area High School, Jackson Falk

North Penn High School, Giuseppe Schiano Di Cola

Springfield Township High School, Ava Culler

Award Winners

Spring-Ford High School, Amya Turner

The Baldwin School, Nina Heverin-Alvarado

Upper Dublin High School, Shane Lincow

Upper Merion Area High School, Kyla Riley

Upper Perkiomen, Jazzmin Hollada

NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Archmere Academy, Kellyn Williams

Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Katherine Heath

Caravel Academy, Sajjan Subramanian

Howard High School of Technology, Caesar Thomas

St. Mark’s High School, Tessa Palm

Salesianum School, Pablo Mezquita Medina

Thomas McKean High School, Grace Starrett

Ursuline Academy, Anne Schofield

William Penn High School, Brianna Phillips

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Bethlehem Catholic High School, James Richards

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School, Bre Solomon

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Samantha Suarez

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Archbishop Ryan High School, Vonn Krieger

Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, Najee Mitchum

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, Leilani Bruno-Rodriguez

Franklin Towne Charter High School, Malya Redick

Freire Charter High School, Maurice Cannon, Jr.

Friends Select School, Talia Mono

Award Winners

Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, Yahaira (Tiny)

Harper-Aponte

Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Veronica Clark

Martin Luther King High School, Rakin Martinez

Nazareth Academy High School, Annalise Dubeck

Olney High School, Yuleishka Tirado-Mercado

Parkway Center City High School, Yamina Kone

Philadelphia Academy Charter High School, Caitlin Reilly

Philadelphia Electrical Technology Charter High School, Nehemiah Brown

Philadelphia High School for Girls, Zahiya Daniels

Samuel Fels High School, Morgan Huggins

Science Leadership Academy–Center City, Angelina Olsen

Ss. Neumann Goretti Catholic High School, Delaney Capitolo

St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, Tagaire Norris

The Crefeld School, Zander Hrynko

Universal Audenried Charter High School, Oumarou Balde

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

Marian Catholic High School, Margaret Turrano

Minersville Area High School, Nolan Plesnarski

Nativity BVM High School, Chloe Zulick

Pottsville Area High School, William Davis

Schuylkill Haven Area High School, Thomas Adams

Tri-Valley High School, Maxwell Masser

YORK COUNTY

West York Area High School, Quinton Rhone

William Penn Senior High School, Yazmily Sanyet Virola