SUNY Orange's Sojourner Truth awards celebrate diversity and achievement

MIDDLETOWN - SUNY Orange will formally recognize nearly 600 local elementary and secondary school students for their achievements in a variety of educational areas when the College hosts the awards banquet for its 18th annual Sojourner Truth Awards Program on March 9 in the Physical Education Building. The Sojourner Truth Awards Program hails students from grades 6 through 12 who have demonstrated skills in areas such as language arts, mathematics, sciences, performing and media arts, athletics, citizenship and perseverance/effort. The program aims to promote education in a positive manner and encourage students to strive for a college degree. A total of 578 students were cited for their achievement this year. Dr. Roberto Calderín, a member of the college Board of Trustees, will serve as the keynote speaker. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fordham University, as well as a doctorate in Education. He also boasts a master’s degree from the City University of New York. He is the principal of New Windsor Elementary School and a longtime activist in civic and Hispanic causes. Sojourner Truth, for whom the program is named, lived in the mid-Hudson Valley after escaping from slavery. Corporate funding for the program and awards banquet comes from Orange & Rockland Utilities, Provident Bank, Cellular One, Jubilee Multi-Cultural Arts and the Latin Jubilee Radio Show (WTBQ Radio, 1110 AM). Among the award-winning students are: Greenwood Lake Middle School Zoila Andrade, perseverance/effort; Simone Burgard, athletics; Hensley Caraballo, perseverance/effort, Stephanie Purdy, athletics; and Keyniah Robinson, athletics. S.S. Seward Institute Naomi Abel, language arts; Viviana Alers, language arts; Adam Leary, citizenship; Alexandra Lewis, mathematics; Andrew Millan, language arts; Katrisha Paul, sciences; Adriana Reyes, sciences; Terrelle Santiago, athletics; Chaka Velasquez, citizenship; Jessica Velez, language arts; Maegan Villaverde, performing & media arts; DeNiro Yorke, perseverance/effort; and DiMitri Yorke Jackson, perseverance/effort. Warwick Valley School District Terry Agbo (Middle School), citizenship; Davidta Brown (Middle School), sciences; Laketha Costello (High School), academic achievement; Guisel Cruz-Tenorio (High School), perseverance/effort; Phenicia Davis (Middle School), academic achievement; Shamira Gillian (Middle School), citizenship; Abigail Hintermeister (Middle School), citizenship; Fabian Justiniano (High School), citizenship; Jenna Lianne Murphy (High School), performing and media arts; Jormarie Nogue (High School), citizenship; Peter Pascoe (Middle School), perseverance/effort; Alicia Revels (Middle School), sciences; Ashley Smith (Middle School), citizenship; and Asia Smith (High School), sciences.