Grade 7
Ethan Bostick is an amazing student — kind, smart and always willing to help others. In class, he thoughtfully contributes to discussions, provides evidence to support his ideas and always completes his writing assignments with care and creativity. He listens respectfully to his classmates, offers encouraging feedback and helps them with challenging concepts. His courteous nature, strong work ethic and bright mind make him a joy to teach. Ethan is not only a stellar student in ELA but also a wonderful friend to his peers.
Desray Bell has genuine kindness towards everyone. She always has a smile to share and is always willing to lend a helping hand with anything! She always encourages her classmates to work hard, and she always makes sure that the classroom environment remains positive. Ms. Giammarino appreciates her and loves having her as a student.
Guelineda Bruno is willing to help every classmate. Anytime that the class gets a new student, she is the first one offering to assist in any way. She is a true leader and brings a smile to everything that she does. Ms. Giammarino is very lucky to have her as a part of her class!
Kristel Maldonado is so helpful working with new Spanish-speaking ELL students and always gives her best in all she does.
Yasmine Marc and Cathalina PetitFrere always come to class smiling and ready to learn. They help hand out students’ folders, participate in class and make everyone’s day a little brighter.
Emmanuelle Omoseyin is kind, smart and always involved in school activities. The Elmont Phoenix Newspaper Club and Ms. Martinez are very grateful for Emma's wonderful contributions to the first issue of the year. The three articles she wrote received the most fan mail Ms. Martinez has ever seen. She is so appreciative that her interesting articles keep students reading our school paper and that she is enthusiastic about being a Top Speller in the Spartan Spelling Bee!
Grade 8
Emmanuel Hanson is the perfect representative for the title of Model Citizen. Emmanuel shows respect for teachers and classmates, participates in class and tries his best, even when the work is difficult. His participation and positive attitude helps create a strong classroom community in Ms. Smith’s class.
Rizwan Khan is a student who respects others and treats everyone with kindness in Ms. Smith’s class. They follow school rules because they care about creating a safe and positive environment. Their actions show responsibility, even when no one is watching.
Justin Kunjal helps others without being asked in Ms. Smith’s class. He listens carefully and makes space for different opinions.
Nicole Magdaleno is extremely hard-working, caring and helpful. She hands out folders, collects them at the end of the period and is kind to everyone. She has a smile that lights up the room!
Valerie Oladiran is a student who shows leadership by setting a good example every day in Ms. Smith’s classroom. She is focused and makes great decisions in every class. She is always working hard and stepping up to challenges and this, in turn, inspires others to do the same.
Hashim Rasul is a bright and motivated young man who keeps his eyes on what matters most. Nothing and no one can distract him from achieving his goals. His focus and drive make him stand out in Ms. Smith’s class in the best way.
Priscilla Rivera has been kind since the first day of school. She has made strong connections with both peers and teachers. She is an absolute light to have in Ms. Smith’s English classroom.
Nehemie St. Vil is an exemplary student who challenges all around her to be the best versions they can be.
Kevin Sanon sets a powerful example in Ms. Smith’s classroom through his focus and determination. He refuses to let anything, or anyone, steer him away from his goals. His steady commitment inspires those around him and makes him a terrific classmate and student.
Ositadinma Uche-Konkwo is a wonderful 8th grade student who aims to take advantage of all academic opportunities given to him. Osi asked Ms. Tichy to recommend him for programs at Loyola and Stony Brook, and then wrote a very kind email thanking her, which was very mature. Osi also personally thanked Mrs. Hunter and Ms. Tichy for helping him to participate in the Spelling Bee. Osi is a student that truly values all this building has to offer and shows his gratitude for the support he gets with respect and kindness.
Noor Ul Ain is an absolute class act. She is the epitome of grace. The way she works with her peers and contributes to the curriculum in Ms. Smith’s class is always appreciated. Her maturity, kindness, and consistent effort elevate the learning environment for everyone around her.
Grade 9
Angie Feliz Almanzar is a positive member of the classroom community who shows excellent leadership qualities when working in group settings. She is a great example both inside and outside of the classroom of a student leader.
Silas Hudson is incredibly sweet and pleasant in class. He listens carefully to his peers and gives quality feedback. Silas is insightful and continues to encourage his peers to think critically about world issues. Ms. Harley and her period 1 students are grateful to have Silas in the classroom.
Alexander Isoga always has a kind word or gesture for anyone who is lucky enough to come into contact with him. Every interaction is filled with respect and sincerity. Alexander asks questions to clarify expectations and works hard to make himself and others proud. He is conscientious and a pleasure to have in Ms. Harley’s class.
Nathan Mathieu lights up every room with his smile and positive energy. He participates daily and encourages his peers. He arrives to first period with the motivation to successfully complete any task given and he is kind and respectful to all of his peers.
Angel Montoya is a very helpful student who takes his work seriously and is also always willing to help others. Ms. Baah is grateful for his infectious positivity and the joy that he brings to the classroom community.
ZiNaya Murray is a conscientious student who never settles for anything less than her best. She is a gentle and kind individual who treats everyone with respect. She is an insightful student who appreciates and values education.
Xanaya Williams is the epitome of joy and positivity in Ms. Harley’s English classroom. She is happiness personified and her energy is contagious. She uses her words to uplift others and to engage in the lessons in the best ways. Xanaya is a wonderful example of what it means to be an Elmont Spartan!
Grade 10
Breidy De Jesus Castillo consistently shows his gratitude for the people at Elmont who have become his support system. Breidy has found many teachers for which he is thankful for just showing him love and compassion as he makes the most of his time here in Elmont.
Jostin Deras Banos serves as a guiding light and example to his peers in Biology class. He fills in Ms. Cutrone’s blanks when her Spanish fails and motivates his peers to make good choices. She is thankful for his willingness to help others no matter the circumstances and for his ability to lighten any mood with a bit of humor.
Alex Moorer is a hardworking student and dedicated athlete. He always starts class with a smile and a greeting, and he is so polite to adults and peers alike. He is silly, funny and charming, but also knows when to lock in and be serious. He is never afraid to ask questions and quick to compliment or shout out his classmates if he sees them doing something positive. He is a natural leader in Ms. DeLucia’s 9th period class and leads by example, and she is grateful for him for always being so focused.
Christian Okezie contributed to the Senior High Drama production of “Clue. He showed up day in and day out to fill in for whoever was needed in addition to playing his role as the unexpected cop. Christian showed a lot of growth this year in the Drama Club and his dedication to the play went above and beyond what was expected of him.
Grade 11
Grace Gavlo is one of the most supportive students at Elmont. She cheers on her friends and helps teachers whenever she can. She is a constant source of positivity and joy. Her hard work and dedication to her future is contagious among her peers.
Amanda Johnson greets her teachers and peers with a genuine smile every day. She helps peers understand challenging concepts and models patience, respect and leadership qualities. She is dependable, responsible and spreads optimism wherever she goes. Ms. Harley and her AP Research students are so grateful to have her in our class.
Maysin Joseph is easygoing and personable. He works well with all of his peers and brightens everyone's day with his positive energy. He takes his education seriously and leads by example. Ms. Lennon is fortunate enough to have Maysin in two classes this year, AP Language and Composition and Public Speaking. She also had the pleasure of teaching him in English 9A.
Afreen (Zara) Khan is a new student to Elmont this year, but you would never know it. She has adapted so seamlessly into the Elmont community, and she lights up any room that she is in. She is hardworking, smart, and most importantly caring towards her peers. She constantly offers her help to others and advocates for her peers if she feels they need more support. She is a great friend and overall a role model of a student!
Ocayry Louisguens Vasquez is always the first person to help with handing out materials and she is always looking for a way to make her teachers’ lives easier. Ms. Deane is grateful that they get to see her smiling face every day in class and that they can count on her help and assistance with whatever they need.
Grade 12
Aaliyah Awofala has the most insanely wonderful ideas. Because of her creativity and drive to do things that will give the Class of 2026 a memorable last year, the group has pulled off many firsts and have had nearly 100% participation in every activity they have planned. She's a force.
Chris Duval (Jedidja) has walked Ms. Agnello to her car every afternoon this year to ensure she gets out all right. Although she manages to get out of the building by herself physically, the fact that he is there does wonders for her mental health.
Rudy Gerard has always gone out of his way to help anyone in his life. In 10th grade, he actually came up with the idea of ELL students receiving Key Club hours for helping new students get acclimated to the school. This year, however, he's on a whole new level. He literally anticipates what Ms. Agnello may need and wordlessly steps in to pass out papers, help another student, or run an errand. She could absolutely not do this year without him.
Namanpreet Kaur has been Ms. Fulgieri’s go-to student for four years now. She is constantly pushing herself to grow and is a yes-woman. She had been head producer for EBN for two years now and Ms. Fulgieri honestly does not know what she will do without her after she graduates. Recently, Namanpreet has taken on the library classroom mural, and her artistic vision is completely elevating the piece.
Melvin Ortiz is a standout member of Ms. Fulgieri's EBN team. As a new addition, he has gone above and beyond, quickly becoming an MVP through his reliability, creativity and willingness to tackle anything. He brings genuine gratitude to every opportunity, whether it’s expanding his impact on the news or contributing in other areas, and his positive energy is infectious. He makes our school stronger every day.
Jolesea Smith is an all-around great person! She lights up the room and is kind to everyone. She pushed herself to excel while also staying very active in the Elmont school community. Ms. Fulgieri is grateful to know Jolesea. She is one of those students who reminds her of why she loves working with teenagers.
Wendy Velasco Rivas has committed herself to learning English and working to the best of her ability to make a good life for her daughter. After coming back from a leave of absence, Wendy quickly became a shining star in class and her English has improved quickly. It is admirable how she manages to go above and beyond for her studies and balance the demands of caring for her family.
Mars Waite not only starred as Wadsworth the butler, but also helped to organize rehearsals, block out the scenes, recruit additional cast members, and motivate and inspire others through kindness and high expectations during the Senior High Drama production of “Clue. On top of it all, Mars’ performance was a master class of comedic acting. Bravo!