“This is such an impressive group of young leaders,” he said. “The honorees have succeeded academically while also serving as leaders in their schools and communities.”
Holodick said the scholars’ success is a result of their own hard work, but also a reflection of the support of their families and educators.
“As they prepare for college, the workforce and military service, I hope that wherever their next steps take them, their paths lead them to careers in Delaware,” he said. “We need them as the future leaders of our state.”
The number of scholars from each school is based on enrollment. The program dates to 1984.
School principals nominate students based on their academic records and community service.
The students, joined by their families and school leaders, were honored Monday during a dinner in Dover. A video showcases the students and what inspired their success.
Here are the 2023 Secretary of Education Scholars:
Appoquinimink
Ansh Desai – Appoquinimink High School
Shivi Royal – Appoquinimink High School
Alexis Skinner – Appoquinimink High School
Allison Aquino – Middletown High School
Allison Kish – Middletown High School
Ella Trembanis – Middletown High School
Brandywine
Anand John – Brandywine High School
Jonathan Pei – Brandywine High School
Miles Bliey – Concord High School
Meera Ratnagiri – Concord High School
Eleanor Frank – Mount Pleasant High School
Zakia Zara – Mount Pleasant High School
Caesar Rodney
Abigail Cholewa – Caesar Rodney High School
Puiyee Kong – Caesar Rodney High School
Alyssa McClearly – Caesar Rodney High School
Rachel Smith – Caesar Rodney High School
Cape Henlopen
Abigail Betts – Cape Henlopen High School
Camryn Cunningham – Cape Henlopen High School
Colleen Flynn – Cape Henlopen High School
Capital
Ellisyn Arthur – Dover High School
Kylee Countryman – Dover High School
Khushdeep Kaur – Dover High School
Charter School of Wilmington
Mia Lu – Charter School of Wilmington
Nathan Zhao – Charter School of Wilmington
Christina
Olivia Agu – Christiana High School
Jayden Murphy – Christiana High School
Dante Dill-Smith – Delaware School for the Deaf
Asia N. Mitchell – Glasgow High School
Ngoc Khanh Tran – Glasgow High School
Cheyenne Brown – Newark High School
Seth Fuhr – Newark High School
Ketisa Lumiere Donfack Ouwe – Sarah Pyle Academy
Colonial
Andrae Amponsah – William Penn High School
Evelyn Arnoth – William Penn High School
Carson Brown – William Penn High School
Lun Kong – William Penn High School
Delaware Military Academy
Isaac DiMaio – Delaware Military Academy
Giada MacNamara – Delaware Military Academy
Delmar
Sarah Lopatofsky – Delmar High School
Dhara Nakrani – Delmar High School
Early College School at Delaware State University
Mariana Kebaso – Early College School at Delaware State University
First State Military Academy
Natalie Hougentogler – First State Military Academy
Freire Charter School
Shi-anne Reams-Bennett – Freire Charter School
Indian River
Vicky Chan – Indian River High School
Carley Topper – Indian River High School
Eva Cullen – Sussex Central High School
Michael Fagundes-Rocha – Sussex Central High School
Olivia Fox – Sussex Central High School
Sherly Zhu – Sussex Central High School
Lake Forest
Mary Moller – Lake Forest High School
Emilee Rau – Lake Forest High School
Laurel
Mirta Angel-Gabriel – Laurel Senior High School
Caroline Ricketts – Laurel Senior High School
Milford
Layna Reynolds – Milford Senior High School
Brendan Slonacher – Milford Senior High School
MOT Charter School
Maanvi Sarwadi – MOT Charter School
Samhitha Vallury – MOT Charter School
New Castle County Vo-Tech
Dariana Fuentes-Ortiz – Delcastle Technical High School
Rosevanny Ibarra-Sosa – Delcastle Technical High School
Sa’Niya Watson – Delcastle Technical High School
Cora Hawkins – Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School
Chloe Ramirez – Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School
Naomi Mejia – Howard High School of Technology
Brazil Munroe – Howard High School of Technology
Sierra Hammett – St. Georges Technical High School
Jamal Stewart – St. Georges Technical High School
Newark Charter School
Alexander Barry – Newark Charter School
Lila Seiler – Newark Charter School
Odyssey Charter School
Charlotte Walder – Odyssey Charter School
Polytech
Queen Sabanayagam – Polytech High School
Armaan Zahid – Polytech High School
Positive Outcomes Charter School
Jeremiah Waid – Positive Outcomes Charter School
Red Clay
Genevieve Breen – Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Isabelle Bruening – Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Nathan Cho – Conrad Schools of Science
Valentina Feldmann – Conrad Schools of Science
Zoe Cox – John Dickinson School
Aevyn Koczera – John Dickinson School
Charlotte Pollock – A.I. du Pont High School
Alexandra Principe – A.I. du Pont High School
Alexandria Joiner – Thomas McKean High School
Ivaneli Portuguez-Valle – Thomas McKean High School
Seaford
Natalie Carter – Seaford Senior High School
Salma Oropeza-Alcantara – Seaford Senior High School
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
