PTA Council awards $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships to 16 students
![A group of people stand on a stage holding certificates in front of a white screen, while an audience sits in a dark auditorium in the foreground.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1782312722/mtvernoncsdorg/s9htmgsigvdbmzko4umi/EdithKaplanScholarships2026.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1782312722/mtvernoncsdorg/s9htmgsigvdbmzko4umi/EdithKaplanScholarships2026.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1782312722/mtvernoncsdorg/s9htmgsigvdbmzko4umi/EdithKaplanScholarships2026.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1782312722/mtvernoncsdorg/s9htmgsigvdbmzko4umi/EdithKaplanScholarships2026.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1782312722/mtvernoncsdorg/s9htmgsigvdbmzko4umi/EdithKaplanScholarships2026.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1782312722/mtvernoncsdorg/s9htmgsigvdbmzko4umi/EdithKaplanScholarships2026.jpg","width":2200}])
PTA Council awards $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships to 16 students
Sixteen students from the Class of 2026 were awarded with $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships from the Mount Vernon PTA Council at the Board of Education meeting this Tuesday. The scholarships, raised through the Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance, will help support the students' college goals, which were highlighted as they received the scholarships.
The PTA Council raised $20,000 at the Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance in April. In addition to their scholarships for college-bound graduates, the council also awarded $100 to two eighth graders from each school for the Eighth Grade Citizen Award, recognizing their leadership, character and service to their school communities.
“These students represent the very best of Mount Vernon hard work, resilience, and a dedication to excellence and community service,” said PTA President Michelle Raio. The PTA president from each school then announced the scholarship recipients and the colleges that they will attend in the fall.
Scholarship Recipients
Mount Vernon High School
Alexis Gerald - University Of Hartford
Naari Davis - Mercy University
Chelsea Crenshaw - Mercy University (Dobbs Ferry)
Dashon Brown - Pace University
Jeimy Espinal Leon - Mercy University
Mount Vernon STEAM Academy
Leonard Oduro - University of Albany
Stephany Valdovinos - John Jay College of Criminal of Justice
Cayden Mitchell - North Carolina A&T
Ariel Mussington - University of New Haven
Angie Gutierrez - Mount Saint Vincent
Sean Souphomma-Inh - Apex Technical School
Denzel Washington School of the Arts
Abigail Stephens - University of Pennsylvania
Matthew Samuels - NYU
Sydney Whitaker - Fashion Institute of Technology
Santaycia Campbell - College of Westchester
Madison Miller - Georgia State University
![Redesign Traphagen School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":940}])
We are excited to share that the Mount Vernon City School District has been awarded a New York State Smart Scholars Grant, providing a unique opportunity for a select group of students to participate in the Smart Scholars Early College High School Program.
![A colorful spinning wheel is projected onto a large screen in a room with tables and chairs in the foreground and people seated in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1783622542/mtvernoncsdorg/anhui9ubhbbfdfgvnex1/IMG_1189.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1783622542/mtvernoncsdorg/anhui9ubhbbfdfgvnex1/IMG_1189.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1783622542/mtvernoncsdorg/anhui9ubhbbfdfgvnex1/IMG_1189.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1783622542/mtvernoncsdorg/anhui9ubhbbfdfgvnex1/IMG_1189.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1783622542/mtvernoncsdorg/anhui9ubhbbfdfgvnex1/IMG_1189.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1783622542/mtvernoncsdorg/anhui9ubhbbfdfgvnex1/IMG_1189.jpg","width":2200}])
For the sixth year, the Mount Vernon City School District is offering prekindergarten for three-year-olds (UPK-3). A lottery was held on Thursday afternoon for the upcoming 2026-27 school year to occupy the 60 spots available.
My first year as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District has been unforgettable, thanks to the support and dedication of our families, students, faculty, and staff. It has been my honor to serve this community and work toward building a brighter future for all of us. This was a successful year, and I want you to know that every bit of it was felt and heard. We faced real challenges and grew stronger because of them, and the progress we made together touched me deeply. It belonged to every family, student, teacher, and staff member who showed up and gave this district their best.
![Mount Vernon's Jewel Box]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1752855455/mtvernoncsdorg/ueg85owfvyjytanmmczs/MountVernonsJewelBox.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1752855455/mtvernoncsdorg/ueg85owfvyjytanmmczs/MountVernonsJewelBox.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1752855455/mtvernoncsdorg/ueg85owfvyjytanmmczs/MountVernonsJewelBox.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1752855455/mtvernoncsdorg/ueg85owfvyjytanmmczs/MountVernonsJewelBox.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1752855455/mtvernoncsdorg/ueg85owfvyjytanmmczs/MountVernonsJewelBox.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1752855455/mtvernoncsdorg/ueg85owfvyjytanmmczs/MountVernonsJewelBox.png","width":1920}])
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! This week, we honored all of our high school graduates in a memorable and meaningful way. This monumental milestone is one to be immensely proud of, and I know our students will continue on the path of success.
#MtVernonShines
![Seven people stand in the foreground holding bouquets of flowers, with a plain wall and wooden paneling in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1782323349/mtvernoncsdorg/hsoqar3h5as9xjvhcsdd/TenureRecognition-2026-2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1782323349/mtvernoncsdorg/hsoqar3h5as9xjvhcsdd/TenureRecognition-2026-2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1782323349/mtvernoncsdorg/hsoqar3h5as9xjvhcsdd/TenureRecognition-2026-2.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1782323349/mtvernoncsdorg/hsoqar3h5as9xjvhcsdd/TenureRecognition-2026-2.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1782323349/mtvernoncsdorg/hsoqar3h5as9xjvhcsdd/TenureRecognition-2026-2.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1782323349/mtvernoncsdorg/hsoqar3h5as9xjvhcsdd/TenureRecognition-2026-2.jpg","width":2200}])
Thirty-six Mount Vernon City School District educators were awarded with tenure at the Board of Education meeting this Tuesday. These three administrators and 33 teaching staff members earned their tenure through four-plus years of dedicated support of their students and colleagues.
Sixteen students from the Class of 2026 were awarded with $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships from the Mount Vernon PTA Council at the Board of Education meeting this Tuesday. The scholarships, raised through the Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance, will help support the students' college goals, which were highlighted as they received the scholarships.
![logo-primary]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1781890309/mtvernoncsdorg/bnlc9lmaakgrib3maenb/Revised2026-27BudgetVoteandSchoolBoardElectionGraphic-2.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1781890309/mtvernoncsdorg/bnlc9lmaakgrib3maenb/Revised2026-27BudgetVoteandSchoolBoardElectionGraphic-2.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1781890309/mtvernoncsdorg/bnlc9lmaakgrib3maenb/Revised2026-27BudgetVoteandSchoolBoardElectionGraphic-2.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1781890309/mtvernoncsdorg/bnlc9lmaakgrib3maenb/Revised2026-27BudgetVoteandSchoolBoardElectionGraphic-2.png","width":870}])
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who came out to vote in our recent school budget election. Your participation is vital to the future of our schools and demonstrates a deep commitment to the success of our students and our community.
![A young boy and an adult man sit in the foreground with tables of snacks and people in colorful clothing in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1781878008/mtvernoncsdorg/o2rddlul8uqnrhyaj1dy/Penningtongentlemansbrunch-4.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1781878008/mtvernoncsdorg/o2rddlul8uqnrhyaj1dy/Penningtongentlemansbrunch-4.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1781878008/mtvernoncsdorg/o2rddlul8uqnrhyaj1dy/Penningtongentlemansbrunch-4.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1781878008/mtvernoncsdorg/o2rddlul8uqnrhyaj1dy/Penningtongentlemansbrunch-4.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1781878008/mtvernoncsdorg/o2rddlul8uqnrhyaj1dy/Penningtongentlemansbrunch-4.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1781878008/mtvernoncsdorg/o2rddlul8uqnrhyaj1dy/Penningtongentlemansbrunch-4.jpg","width":2200}])
Young Scholars in grades sixth through eighth, along with their fathers and fatherly figures, congregated in the auditorium at Pennington School for the third annual Gentlemen’s Brunch. Esteemed professionals from across the City of Mount Vernon visited to discuss what it means to be a leader and how to overcome hardships.