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 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 Burkett, Austin Flowers, Marteka University of Nevada-Las Vegas Berklee College of Music Temple University

Adams, Kayla Carrington, Amonie Forrester-Wilson, Sydney Bowie State University Undecided University of Illinois at Chicago

Adams, Timothy Chaney, Eric Forte, Asa New York University The University of the Arts Syracuse University

Allen, Amira Clark, Gabrielle Gatling, Niyah Undecided Fashion Institute of Technology Montgomery College

Anderson, Atiya Clarke, Tariq Gibbs, Denzel Undecided Savannah College of Art of Design West Virginia Wesleyan College

Anderson, Grady Clisham-Parsons, Nicholas Gilliam, Tyree Undecided Radford University Georgia State University

Anderson, Trinity Coffer-Bryant, Jordan Gray, Amir New York University University of Southern California Temple University

Bailey, Tyler Crossen, Miniya Griffin, Chloe York College of Pennsylvania Virginia Commonwealth University Savannah College of Art of Design

Barnes, Angel Davis Pollen, Ayiana Hackett, Robert Grambling State University Spelman College Undecided

Barr, Lyle Delgado-Llanos, Andrea Hall, Keyara Undecided School of the Art Institute of Chicago Undecided

Basile, Talli Diggs, Nike Harris, Milan Rutgers University- New Brunswick State University James Madison University

Berdy, Emma Donaldson, I’mani Hausey, Jay Virginia Commonwealth University Delaware State University Undecided

Black, Aylia Douglas, Janiya Haythe, Kesaundra West Virginia Wesleyan College Alabama State University Florida Memorial University

Blanco-Figueroa, Jazmyn Duarte, Davida Henderson, Adarius Syracuse University Catholic University of America University of Wyoming

Boozer, Jahnell Echevarria, Pablo Henson, Kameron The University of the Arts SUNY at Purchase College University of North Carolina at Asheville Brown, Christian Epps, Makayla Undecided West Virginia Wesleyan College Herbert, Autumn Frostburg State University Brown, Pernell Estes, D’mya Morgan State University West Virginia Wesleyan College Hicks, Anaya Spelman College Bryan-Barnes, Madison Evans, Arnedja George Mason University Trinity Washington University Holmes, Jory Columbia College Chicago Buchanan, Amari Flores, Melody Norfolk State University McGill University Horton, Imani Mount Saint Mary College

Hwang, Jonah Undecided Savoy, Terrell University of Miami Virginia State University Morgan, Stefan Isaac, Kai Exceptional Minds Scott, Cassidy Savannah College of Art and Design Old Dominion University Morsell, Nailah Jackson, Raylen The University of the Arts Singleton, Marcus Georgia State University Fashion Institute of Design & Mueller, Lauren Merchandising – Los Angeles Jackson, Wynter The University of the Arts Virginia Commonwealth University Smith, Amari Myers, Kennedy Spelman College James, Chacajua School of Visual Arts Savannah College of Art and Design Smith, Daniel Namoro, Rania Howard Community College Kahiga, Tyvone Maryland Institute College of Art University of Maryland Eastern Shore Snotherly, Nicolai Nash, Elson Amiri Brown University Kearney, Pierre Brown University Undecided Standard, Ashley Nichols, Kai George Washington University Kelly-Futch, Kianna Michigan State University Manhattan School of Music Stewart, Alyse O’Brien, Siobhan Undecided Lampkin, Jalyn Emerson College Bowie State University Tate, Kiamsha Orzulak, Eleanor LIM College Lockett, Julian SUNY at Purchase College Employed Travers, Mitchell Perry, Jerome Savannah College of Art of Design Loftin, J’adore Undecided Spelman College Varre, Giselle Phillips-Quigley, Emmani Montclair State University Lowe, Taje Florence Academy of Art Delaware State University Vaughn, De’Seaun Poindexter, Kierra Employed Marin, Carla Temple University Maryland Institute College of Art Villaflor, Jensen Price, Karma University of Hawaii McCann, Kayla Rutgers University- New Brunswick North Carolina A&T State University Wade, John Pruden, Simone University of Miami McGuire, Maya Xavier University of Louisiana University of Cincinnati Walton, Ronald Rahman, Nyla University of the District of Columbia Miller, Akilah Spelman College Community College The Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University Rebora, Isabel West, Skyy DePaul University Prairie View A & M University Mills, Deja Clark Atlanta University Richmond, Donovan Whitley, Courtney University of Hartford, Connecticut Towson University Moats, Grady Columbia College Chicago Richmond, Keris Whitworth, Logan The University of the Arts California Institute of the Arts Moore, Bailey George Washington University Robinson, Anna Williams, Jada Antioch College Virginia State University Moore, Caleb University of Maryland Global Campus Sabahi, Sebastian Williams, James Berklee College of Music Wake Forest University Moran, Stephanie University of the District of Columbia Sanchez-Cruz, Noemi Wimpye, Brandi Trinity Washington University Virginia Commonwealth University Moreno-Acero, Karen

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

In Remembrance of Co-Founders Mike Malone & Peggy Cooper Cafritz