Widener University, in partnership with NBC10 and Telemundo62, announced the winners of the 13th annual Widener University High School Leadership Awards.
The awards recognize high school juniors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who have displayed exemplary leadership in their communities, allowing the university to honor more than 1,300 students over more than a decade.
This year, the program recognized 137 students who were selected for their ability to stand up for what they believe in, speak out on behalf of others, and make an impact in their communities.
From Philadelphia County the selected winners were:
- St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, William Vokolos
- Nazareth Academy High School, Annabella Davies
- Franklin Towne Charter High School, James McFadden
- Lankenau High School, Daiquan Shepherd
- Mariana Bracetti Academy High School, Justice Stanton
- New Foundations Charter High School, Julian Felix
- Paul Robeson High School, Maddison Gordon
- Philadelphia Academy Charter High School, Juliana Chang
- Universal Audenried Charter High School, Sita Sanou
- Archbishop Ryan High School, Mark Anthony
- Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School, Jennifer Haifa
- Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Sala Bouy
- John Bartram High School, Dajuan Peak
- Samuel Fels High School, Trinity Freeman
- Philadelphia High School for Girls, Majay Konneh
- Imhotep Institute Charter High School, Isaiah Prater
- Constitution High School, Cavance Snaith
- Cristo Rey High School, Morgan Hughes
- Freire Charter School – Philadelphia, Nasir Lacend
- Parkway Center City High School, Mariam Coulibaly
- Philadelphia Electrical Technology (PET) Charter High School, Nevaeh Brown
- William L. Sayre High School, Niazyiah Newton
- William W. Bodine High School for Intl. Affairs, Khader Motan
- Roxborough High School, Saamir James
- Roxborough High School, Kayla Forster
- South Philadelphia High School, Warren Sutton
- George Washington High School, Juelz Palmero
- Friends School, Sophia Le
- Multicultural Academy Charter School, Shiya Graham
- Science Leadership Academy, Xen Gadsden
Among the winners, the Widener University High School Leadership Awards recognized students who:
- Collectively accumulated more than 700 hours of community service over the past year.
- Upheld rigorous academic course loads while still being involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
- Coached and mentored younger students and others in the community.
“Widener is distinctive because of our inclusive culture where students belong and can thrive as their authentic selves. I salute these 137 award winners for demonstrating courage, tenacity, and leadership while exhibiting the same drive reflected in Widener’s principles. We congratulate them!” said Stacey Robertson, president of Widener University.
Winners are invited to an in-person program on Wednesday, March 20, with their families and school administrators at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia’s historic district.
In addition to being recognized as young leaders in the region, if students enroll at Widener as undergraduates, they will participate in the university’s prestigious Apogee Leadership Scholars program and receive a $20,000 scholarship over four years.
Apogee Scholars also participate in four years of leadership programming and earn a Widener Leadership Certificate.
“These students are not just the future leaders; they are already making a difference today, as evidenced by their daily efforts to improve their schools and communities,” said Ric Harris, president and general manager of NBC10, Telemundo62, and NBC Sports Philadelphia.
“We are proud of our continued involvement in this program and in honoring these exceptional young individuals for their remarkable achievements. We are eager to witness their future successes in college and beyond.”
Find out more about the High School Leadership Awards.
Widener University is a private institution known for its commitment to the personal and professional success of every student, where academic experiences are distinguished by excellence and students develop the leadership qualities employers seek.
Core values of respect, integrity, and excellence are reflected in an outstanding student experience provided through an agile, innovative, and inclusive approach to learning. Industry-shaping faculty provide close, personal mentorship and share powerful connections that help students build professional networks.
Recognized as one of the Philadelphia region’s leading universities, Widener offers programs and experiences that empower our community of learners to discover and create better futures as scholars, leaders, and globally engaged citizens.
