SUNY Orange Welcomes Sojourner Truth Award Nominees

SUNY Orange is preparing to honor students for their annual Sojourner Truth Awards Program. SUNY Orange will acknowledge the accomplishments of deserving students in grades 6-12 and encourage college attendance as an option for students from groups traditionally under-represented in the college population. This year they are pleased to announce an in-person ceremony scheduled for March 8, 2024. 

SUNY Orange's Office of Student Services would like to invite educators to submit online nominations by February 2, 2024 for those students who you would like to recognize as deserving of a Sojourner Truth Award.  Please go to the Online Nomination form to enter your nomination by the deadline of February 2.  Information and criteria for the nomination process will be emailed and mailed to school personnel. Please share this information with your colleagues. Each award recipient will receive a certificate from SUNY Orange along with a medal acknowledging their achievements.  Medals will be presented to those who attend the ceremony. The remainder of the medals will be mailed to those not in attendance. All of the certificates will be mailed to the schools to be distributed by school personnel.

We are always encouraged and grateful for your support over the years and appreciate your dedication and commitment to this worthwhile program. 

For additional information about the Sojourner Truth Awards, please visit the homepage of our Sojourner Truth website.  If you have any further questions, you can contact Dolores Jones at 845 341-4000 or email dolores.jones@sunyorange.edu

2023 SUNY Orange Sojourner Truth Award Recipients:

In 2023, SUNY Orange announces that a total of 735 students in grades 6 through 12 attending Orange County high schools will receive 2023 Sojourner Truth Awards.

The College’s Sojourner Truth Awards Program honors students who have been nominated by school guidance counselors and principals for having demonstrated excellence in areas such as athletics, citizenship, creative arts, diversity, English language arts, foreign languages, perseverance/effort, sciences, and technology.  The program aims to promote education in a positive manner and to motivate students to consider college as a viable and attainable goal.

Sojourner Truth, for whom the program is named, lived in the mid-Hudson Valley after escaping from slavery.  She is hailed as one of the most distinguished and highly regarded women of the 19th Century. Born Isabella Bomefree (later spelled Baumfree) in about 1797 in Hurley, N.Y., Isabella was sold four times before she and her daughter were given their freedom in 1828. She spoke low Dutch until she was about 10 years old and never learned to read or write. In 1843 she changed her name to Sojourner Truth to reflect her chosen mission of traveling to show people their sins and telling them what is true.  She is often cited as one of the most effective and powerful speech-makers of her time.

To learn more about this program, visit SUNY Orange’s Sojourner Truth website at www.sunyorange.edu/stap or call the Office of Student Services at 845-341-4000.

2023 Sojourner Truth Award Winners

Newburgh Enlarged City School District

Newburgh Free Academy: Fernanda Angel, Sciences; Hannah-Isabelle Azemar, Citizenship; Jillian Brand, Mathematics; Sari Bryant, Foreign Languages; Ladaliah Burrell, Foreign Languages; Alissa Cintron, Creative Arts; Semiah Clark, Perseverance/Effort; Jose Cortez, Mathematics; Julyssa De la Cruz, Foreign Languages; Justin Diaz, Citizenship; Ryan Dupper, Perseverance/Effort; Melvin Enamorado, Foreign Languages; Tomas Flaz-Abreu Jr., Citizenship; Brianna Garcia, Perseverance/Effort; Leonardo Godinez-Perez, Foreign Languages; Hector Gomez, Foreign Languages; Jose Gomez, Foreign Languages; Devon Henry, Foreign Languages; Deondre Johnson, Perseverance/Effort; Gabriela Luna, Foreign Languages; Angelly Majano Collart, Foreign Languages; Yasmin Marin, Foreign Languages; Samaria Mayshack, Perseverance/Effort; Damari McNair, Citizenship; Yadira Mendoza, Foreign Languages; Matthew Mercado, English Language Arts; Analisse Montoya, Foreign Languages; Josephine Palmer, Foreign Languages; Luis Paulino, Creative Arts; Candice Pillot, Foreign Languages; Annaliese Pisano, Perseverance/Effort; Jamari Robertson, Perseverance/Effort; Annette Saldana, Foreign Languages; Mckayla Santiago, Perseverance/Effort; Lakeya Stukes, Citizenship.

Heritage Middle School: Shalaya Brooks, Citizenship.

Meadow Hill Global Explorations School: Madison Cruz, Diversity; Mokechi Fumoto, Perseverance/Effort; Nicholas Morales, Citizenship; Celso Quiroz, Sciences; Francisco Santiago, Mathematics; Julyssa Santiago, English Language Arts; Ja’Hara Warren, Perseverance/Effort; Kaylyn Williams, Perseverance/Effort.

South Middle School: Denya Ali, Citizenship; Callum Blackington-Celentano, Citizenship; Cameron Candela, Citizenship; John Castillo, Citizenship; Daniel Ceglio, Citizenship; Julianna Clarino, Athletics; Mia Cuomo, Athletics; Jaleeya Degraffenried, Citizenship; Peter Dominguez, Perseverance/Effort; Jamie Fincher, Citizenship; Maliyah Gilchrest, Perseverance/Effort; Kenleigh Hanna, English Language Arts; Cesar Hernandez, Citizenship; Weston Kubin, Citizenship; Gabriella Lopez, Creative Arts; Giovanna Mandato, Citizenship; Isabella Martinez, Athletics; Jayden Mendez-Castelan, Citizenship; Yaira Ordonez Cruz, Perseverance/Effort; Natalie Padilla, Citizenship; Krista Pucino, Citizenship; Autumn Ramaglia, Citizenship; James Santo, Citizenship; Cooper Schmidt, Citizenship; Avery Simmons, Citizenship; Demari Waitley, Citizenship; Sean Walsh, Citizenship; Anthonia Whitted, Citizenship.

Temple Hill Academy Middle School: Yediel Alicea, Foreign Languages; Josue Cruz, Mathematics; Katherine Duran-Solis, Perseverance/Effort; Legacy Ferrell, Perseverance/Effort; Sherlyn Garcia, Perseverance/Effort; Amari Henry-Andrews, English Language Arts; Nevaeh McDaniel, Perseverance/Effort; Monserrat Perez Salgado, Foreign Languages; Henry Perez-Rodriguez, Perseverance/Effort; Lucas Soto, Foreign Languages.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!