District of Columbia Public Schools

Muriel Bowser Mayor

Paul Kihn

Deputy Mayor for Education

Dr. Lewis Ferebee Chancellor

Jerry Jellig

Instructional Superintendent

DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

45th Annual Commencement Ceremony Duke Ellington School of the Arts 3500 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Saturday, June 20, 2020 3:00 p.m.

Co-Founders

Peggy Cooper Cafritz Mike Malone

Chief Executive Officer

Tia Powell Harris Principal

Sandi Logan Chief Financial Officer

Anne Marie Logue Director of Academic Instruction

Vanessa Snyder Director of Arts

Angela Jones Director of Administrative Operations

Jay Walker Director of Student Affairs

Donna Hollis Director of Operations & Collaborative Projects

Jevelle Branch Director of Enrollment & Educational Partnerships

Savannah R. Overton Director of Development, The Ellington Fund

Christiana Diamond

Senior Class Officers Senior Class Sponsors Sydney Forrester Wilson, President Donna Hollis Ayiana Davis Polen, Vice President Tiffany Jackson

Jory Holmes, Vice President Angela Jones Chloe Griffin, Secretary Marquis Mathis Kayla McCann & Giselle Varre, Treasurer Nicolas Ojeda Amir Gray, Sergeant of Arms Savannah Overton

Charise Shaw

Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project Partners District of Columbia Public Schools

The Ellington Fund The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The George Washington University The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project is an independently operated public school in partnership with the D.C. Public Schools, George Washington University, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and The Ellington Fund. At Ellington, a college preparatory and arts focused high school, students specialize in Dance, Instrumental Music, Literary Media and Communications, Museum Studies, Technical Design & Production, Theatre, Visual Arts, & Vocal Music. The Ellington Fund was founded in 1978, and serves as the independent 501(c)3 fundraising arm of the Duke Ellington School

of the Arts. For information on tax-deductible contributions to Ellington call 202.299.5663. Charles Barber, DESAP Board President Kevette Burwell, Alumni Association President Ari Q. Fitzgerald, Ellington Fund Board President Howard Wilson, SHADE President School Home Association of Duke Ellington

45th COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

PROGRAM

Processional Pomp and Circumstance

March No. 1 op. 39 By Edward Elgar

Duke Ellington School of the Arts Orchestra (2019 Recording) Conducted by Isaac Daniel

The Star Spangled Banner Traditional

Arranged by Take 6 Norman Brentley, flute

Welcome Sandi Logan, Principal

TDP Presentation Feelings and Visions Through the Lens of An Artist

photography and editing by Amir Gray Kiamsha Tate, Keris Richmond, Pierre Kearney

Greetings from the Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor Visual Arts Presentation

Vision Express Animation by Piankhi Zimmerman

Salutatorian Address Isabel Rebora

Vocal Music Selections

Zueignung by Richard Strauss

Kianna Kelly-Futch, Soprano

Del cabello mas sutil by Fernando Obradors

Maya McGuire, Soprano

Valedictorian Address Melody Flores

Instrumental Music Selection

Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in A Major IV Allegretto poco mosso

Composed by Cesar Franck Melody Flores, violin

Ellington Fund and Special Awards Charles Barber, DESAP Board President

Zachary Cafritz

Introduction of Commencement Speaker Dance Performance

Rain on Us Music by Earnest Pugh

Choreographed by J’adore Loftin performed by the Class of 2020 Dancers

‘ Commencement Address Michaela Angela Davis

Image Activist, Writer, Producer & Cultural Commentator

Mayor’s Address Mayor Muriel Bowser

Theatre Presentation

Knock Knock By Daniel Beaty

Performed by Jory Holmes

Awarding of Diplomas & Sandi Logan, Principal Acceptance of Class of 2020 Jerry Jellig, Instructional Superintendent Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor Celebrity Words & Alumni Congratulations

Denyce Graves Mezzo-Soprano, Ellington Alumna

Kevin Ross

Recording Artist, Ellington Alumnus CEO Salute Kelli Anderson, Digital Media Specialist Final Thoughts Tia Powell Harris, CEO Recessional

Glory Written by John Legend, Common, and Rhymefest

A special thank you to the Director Angela Jones and

Technical Design & Production Department:

Nicole Leonard, TDP Department Chair Tony Starnes, A/V Supervisor

Thom Woodward, Audio Engineer

Thank you to our Ellington faculty, staff, SHADE, and other community members for contributions to our Senior Events. Thank you to the Equal Justice Initiative and Bryan

Stevenson for the donation of Just Mercy books. We Love You Madly!

Michaela Angela Davis Commencement Speaker

Michaela Angela Davis is an Image Activist,

Writer, Producer & Cultural Commentator. She’s

been honored by NAACP, UNCF, The City of NY

and others for her work expanding the narrow and

inaccurate narratives of women of color in

mainstream media. She was the only Executive

Fashion, Beauty & Culture Editor at Essence, the

first Fashion Director at Vibe and the last Editor in

Chief at Honey magazines. She has written widely

about gender, race, fashion, culture, beauty &

identity. Michaela is a conversationalist. She’s

taken conversations to France, South Africa, India,

Australia New Zealand and more. She’s facilitated

conversations on leading campus’ and television

networks-ABC, MSNBC & BBC. Michaela was

the editorial lead on the Promax Gold Award

winning rebrand of Centric TV, “The First

Network Designed For Black Women”. She’s

created promotional and social campaigns for

major media networks, beauty and lifestyle brands

and organizations (P&G, Unilever, BET, PPFA) She was a premiere commentator on CNN’s AC360/Later,

and seen regularly across the global network. She is the creator of MAD FREE a creative content, cultural

and community connecting service. Her active projects include “The Hair Tales” with Tracee Ellis Ross a

docuseries known as “The Vagina Monologues for Black Hair” The pilot of mobile mini docs starring

Regina King, Tasha Smith, Patrisse Cullors, Amanda Seales & Kim Coles premiered to broad critical

acclaim. The House of Hair is an experiential and performance space-an extension of her work using hair

as an organizing principle to tell stories of Black Women’s culture and identity. Davis produced a

documentary series on the historic Broadway show Eclipsed featuring Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira

airing in 100 countries. She is currently writing with Mariah Carey on a memoir of her identity. She is the

proud mother of Elenni Davis-Knight.

DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Class of 2020 Post-Secondary Plan

At Ellington, achievement is recognized in many ways. We are pleased to list the following post-secondary plans for which the Class of 2020 members have designated. Collectively, the Class of 2020

have been awarded over $10.6 million in college scholarships and grants.

Adair, Ayriana University of Nevada-Las Vegas Adams, Kayla Bowie State University Adams, Timothy New York University

Allen, Amira Undecided Anderson, Atiya Undecided Anderson, Grady Undecided Anderson, Trinity New York University Bailey, Tyler York College of Pennsylvania Barnes, Angel Grambling State University Barr, Lyle Undecided Basile, Talli Rutgers University- New Brunswick

Berdy, Emma Virginia Commonwealth University Black, Aylia West Virginia Wesleyan College Blanco-Figueroa, Jazmyn Syracuse University

Boozer, Jahnell The University of the Arts Brown, Christian Undecided Brown, Pernell Morgan State University Bryan-Barnes, Madison George Mason University Buchanan, Amari Norfolk State University

Burkett, Austin Berklee College of Music Carrington, Amonie Undecided Chaney, Eric The University of the Arts

Clark, Gabrielle Fashion Institute of Technology Clarke, Tariq Savannah College of Art of Design Clisham-Parsons, Nicholas Radford University Coffer-Bryant, Jordan University of Southern California Crossen, Miniya Virginia Commonwealth University Davis Pollen, Ayiana

Spelman College Delgado-Llanos, Andrea School of the Art Institute of Chicago Diggs, Nike Alabama State University

Donaldson, I’mani Delaware State University Douglas, Janiya Alabama State University Duarte, Davida Catholic University of America

Echevarria, Pablo SUNY at Purchase College Epps, Makayla West Virginia Wesleyan College Estes, D’mya

West Virginia Wesleyan College Evans, Arnedja Trinity Washington University Flores, Melody McGill University

Flowers, Marteka Temple University Forrester-Wilson, Sydney University of Illinois at Chicago Forte, Asa Syracuse University

Gatling, Niyah Montgomery College Gibbs, Denzel West Virginia Wesleyan College Gilliam, Tyree Georgia State University Gray, Amir Temple University Griffin, Chloe Savannah College of Art of Design Hackett, Robert Undecided Hall, Keyara Undecided Harris, Milan James Madison University

Hausey, Jay Undecided Haythe, Kesaundra Florida Memorial University Henderson, Adarius University of Wyoming

Henson, Kameron University of North Carolina at Asheville Herbert, Autumn Frostburg State University

Hicks, Anaya Spelman College Holmes, Jory Columbia College Chicago Horton, Imani Mount Saint Mary College

Hwang, Jonah University of Miami Isaac, Kai Savannah College of Art and Design Jackson, Raylen Georgia State University

Jackson, Wynter Virginia Commonwealth University James, Chacajua Savannah College of Art and Design Kahiga, Tyvone University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Kearney, Pierre Undecided Kelly-Futch, Kianna Manhattan School of Music Lampkin, Jalyn

Bowie State University Lockett, Julian Employed Loftin, J’adore Spelman College Lowe, Taje Delaware State University Marin, Carla Maryland Institute College of Art McCann, Kayla North Carolina A&T State University

McGuire, Maya University of Cincinnati Miller, Akilah The Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University Mills, Deja Clark Atlanta University Moats, Grady Columbia College Chicago Moore, Bailey George Washington University

Moore, Caleb University of Maryland Global Campus Moran, Stephanie University of the District of Columbia Moreno-Acero, Karen

Undecided

Morgan, Stefan Exceptional Minds Morsell, Nailah The University of the Arts Mueller, Lauren

The University of the Arts Myers, Kennedy School of Visual Arts Namoro, Rania Maryland Institute College of Art

Nash, Elson Amiri Brown University Nichols, Kai Michigan State University O’Brien, Siobhan Emerson College

Orzulak, Eleanor SUNY at Purchase College Perry, Jerome Undecided Phillips-Quigley, Emmani Florence Academy of Art

Poindexter, Kierra Temple University Price, Karma Rutgers University- New Brunswick Pruden, Simone

Xavier University of Louisiana Rahman, Nyla Spelman College Rebora, Isabel DePaul University

Richmond, Donovan University of Hartford, Connecticut Richmond, Keris The University of the Arts Robinson, Anna Antioch College

Sabahi, Sebastian Berklee College of Music Sanchez-Cruz, Noemi Trinity Washington University

Savoy, Terrell Virginia State University Scott, Cassidy Old Dominion University Singleton, Marcus Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising – Los Angeles

Smith, Amari Spelman College Smith, Daniel Howard Community College Snotherly, Nicolai Brown University Standard, Ashley George Washington University Stewart, Alyse Undecided

Tate, Kiamsha LIM College Travers, Mitchell Savannah College of Art of Design Varre, Giselle Montclair State University Vaughn, De’Seaun Employed Villaflor, Jensen University of Hawaii Wade, John University of Miami

Walton, Ronald University of the District of Columbia Community College West, Skyy Prairie View A & M University

Whitley, Courtney Towson University Whitworth, Logan California Institute of the Arts Williams, Jada Virginia State University

Williams, James Wake Forest University Wimpye, Brandi Virginia Commonwealth University

Post-secondary plan is based on documentation given to senior counselor, as of 6/17/20

InRemembranceof Co-Founders

MikeMalone&PeggyCooperCafritz