DWSA Class of 2025 students awarded at Senior Awards Convocation

Jun 16 2025

Denzel Washington School of the Arts held its Senior Awards Convocation on Friday evening – with valedictorian Charlotte Watson and salutatorian Elizabeth deGrandpre receiving an impressive, combined total of 26 honors between them.

In a video greeting, acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith told the rising stars that they have all “left a mark over your community.”

“Thank you all for showing such a commitment year in and year out. I’m confident that you’ll continue to excel after you finish your time here,” she said and also thanked the parents for their roles in their children’s academic and artistic accomplishments.

“See you all at graduation!” Dr. Smith added.

Senior class President Nasma Mohammed then addressed her fellow graduates in the school auditorium.

“It's finally June and we're finally here at our senior awards night, the night in which all the work that we've done over the last four years is finally recognized,” said Nasma, who received five honors, including the Principal’s Recognition Award and Physical Education Award.

“We've had late nights studying, early mornings and moments where we wanted to give up, but we didn't. That shows how strong and determined we are. This year especially has been full of challenges, but we all stuck through it and did it together,” she said.

“Thank you to our teachers, families and friends who helped us get here and thank you seniors for making this year and all the others before unforgettable,” the National Honor Society member added.

Principal Andrea Thomas led the ceremony, in which several scholarships and over 40 awards were presented.

“As you prepare for what's next, let's remember what we've learned here in the hallowed halls of the Denzel Washington School of the Arts,” Ms. Thomas said.

She cited “your character, your determination, your ability to move forward even when everything is uncertain.

“Remember what you have learned here these past years. We're very proud of you, Class of 2025 -- very proud of you. I'm not going to start crying yet because I do have another week to go,” the principal added to laughter.

After being cheered and honored as the school’s top graduates, the valedictorian and salutatorian expressed their gratitude for all the support from teachers, friends and family that helped them pave the way for college.

Asked what she thought of being named valedictorian, Charlotte said she was happy that all her hard work paid off.

“I was just being the best that I could be. Be the best in what you do,” said Charlotte, who is graduating with a cumulative grade-point average of 106.6. She plans to attend Barnard College with three years of free tuition.

She said she will major in Art History and take business courses to expand her knowledge.

For her part, Elizabeth said it felt “unreal” to be named salutatorian.

“I’m very proud of myself. I feel truly honored,” said Elizabeth, who loudly cheered her classmates as they strode on the stage to receive their awards throughout the ceremony.

“They all helped me become who I am,” added Elizabeth, who earned a cumulative grade-point average of 105.7.

She is headed to the Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall to begin a five-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program in applied mathematics. In addition, she said she will be a performing arts scholar at the prestigious school.

Elizabeth plans on becoming a math teacher after getting inspired by her high school teachers.

Presentation of Awards

WESTCHESTER ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS

ANNE G. WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP
Xavier Gears

THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION SCHOLARSHIP
Nataskia Rowe

21ST CENTURY TABERNACLE SCHOLARSHIP
Malcolm McClellan

TRIUMPH OVER CHALLENGE AWARD
Leslie Bastida Mata

DR. GLORIA LINDSAY HOBBS AWARD

DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB OF MOUNT VERNON
Nataskia Rowe

LIONS CLUB COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Jhaelyn Jacobs

MOUNT VERNON ADMINISTRATIVE UNION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Elizabeth deGrandpre

MOUNT VERNON KNIGHT ATHLETIC AWARD
Flag Football
Christeina Robinson

Swimming
Elizabeth deGrandpre

Softball
Leylani De Los Santos

DENZEL WASHINGTON CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Eric Buchanan

DWSA EAGLE AWARD (SCHOOL SERVICE)
Christeina Robinson

ZETA ETA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL SORORITY OF PHI DELTA KAPPA
Eric Buchanan

JUDGE JUDY "HER HONOR" AWARD
Amirah Dawkins
Jhaelyn Jacobs
Celine Buchanan

LANGSTON HUGHES AWARDS
Elizabeth deGrandpre

MICHELLE OBAMA AWARD
Jhaelyn Jacobs

BARACK OBAMA AWARD
Davion Pryce

MOST ENTHUSIASTIC SCHOLAR
Sara Marie Wells

TRIPLE "C" AWARD
Leslie Bastida Mata
Xavier Augustine

PRINCIPAL'S RECOGNITION AWARD
Xavier Gears
Nasma Mohammed

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS
Layla Jackson
Davion Pryce
Cooper Bunch
Charlotte Watson
Elizabeth deGrandpre
Leslie Bastida Mata
Alexander Jones
Raychel Brownlee
Celine Buchanan
Kattya Cacnahuaray
Nasma Mohammed
Lexus Boymandjia
Jhaelyn Jacobs
Kendall Cooper
Kemiesha Haynes
Amirah Dawkins
Elizabeth Hall
Leylani De los Santos
Omari Willis
Donnaya Stanley
Albierys Gonzalez
Shirley Hidalgo
Davion Pryce
Ricquia Simpson
Aniyah Ramsey
Xavier Augustine
Samuel Guerrero
Wanda Bravo Gutierrez
Xavier Gears
Nataskia Rowe
Javon Vincent

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
2D Art and Design
Charlotte Watson

African American Studies
Omari Willis

Biology
Charlotte Watson

Calculus
Elizabeth deGrandpre

English Language Arts and Composition
Charlotte Watson

Environmental Science
Elizabeth deGrandpre

US Government and Politics
Charlotte Watson

US History
Charlotte Watson

World History 1
Charlotte Watson

World History 2
Kattya Cacnahuaray

ACADEMIC HONORS
STUDENTS WHO MAINTAINED 3.0 AND ABOVE THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS
Lexus Boymandjia
Wanda Bravo Gutierrez
Raychel Brownlee
Kattya Cacnahuaray
Kendall Cooper
Amirah Dawkins
Leylani De los Santos
Albierys Gonzalez
Elizabeth Hall
Kemiesha Haynes
Jhaelyn Jacobs
Alexander Jones
Nasma Mohammed
Aniyah Ramsey
Donnaya Stanley
Omari Willis

TAU EPSILON PI
MEMBERSHIP IS GRANTED TO ANY STUDENT WHO HAS EARNED A 3.30 OR BETTER FOR THEIR FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE YEAR AND HAS ATTAINED AN AVERAGE OR 3.85 OR BETTER IN THEIR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR. THEY RECEIVED NO GRADE BELOW A 70.
Leslie Bastida Mata
Celine Buchanan
Elizabeth deGrandpre
Charlotte Watson

90% ATTENDANCE IN 4 YEARS OF HS
Gianni St. Louis
Layla Jackson
Cooper Bunch
Kattya Cacnahuaray
Kemiesha Haynes
Elizabeth Hall
Kendall Cooper
Devaughn Collins
Elizabeth deGrandpre
Charlotte Watson
Lexus Boymandjia
Xavier Augustine
Davion Pryce
Ricquia Simpson
Nasma Mohammed
Leslie Bastida Mata
Karissa Hinds
Omari Willis
Raychel Brownlee
Alexander Jones
Donnaya Stanley
Vanise Joseph
Malcolm McClellan
Gregory Hernandez Sevilla
Genysis Lewin
Wanda Bravo Gutierrez
Servera Rivers
Jhaelyn Jacobs