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Rochester City School District honors student leaders at Women’s History Month celebration
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Summary
The Rochester City School District celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring high school student leaders from across the district and presenting a community service award to Dr. Myra Henry of the YWCA Rochester and Monroe County.
The Rochester City School District held its annual Women’s History Month celebration, honoring students from multiple high schools for leadership, academic achievement and community service. Beatrice Lebron, commissioner of the Board of Education, opened the evening and framed the program around the theme “Leading the Change, Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
Lebron urged students to be bold and visible, saying, “Sisters, don't you dare be quiet. Don't you dare shrink.” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Wright delivered welcoming remarks and introduced Taylor Phillips of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, who placed the event in historical context by recounting Susan B. Anthony’s activism and urging multi-generational action. Phillips closed her remarks with a line from Anthony: “we women must be up and doing.”
The program then moved through award presentations from district schools. Recipients and presenters included:
- Edison Tech High School: Natalia Newman, introduced by an Edison school representative; Newman was noted for a scholarship package from Niagara University and plans to pursue nursing and anesthesiology.
- James Monroe High School: Saniyah Davis, introduced by Gina Changelette (Intervention Prevention Specialist), noted for academic rank (top 10%), leadership roles, athletic honors and community service.
- Wilson High School: Gretchen Hockrider, introduced by Chantel (assistant principal), recognized for student-government leadership and community involvement with plans for a nursing career.
- Padilla High School: Jeneisha Scott, introduced by a Padilla representative, recognized for apprenticeship and internship experience in healthcare and acceptance to Houghton University (the transcript contains inconsistent spellings of her given name).
- Rochester Early College: Eliana, introduced by Uma Mehta (principal), noted for a 99.02 GPA and 38 college credits earned while in high school.
- Rochester International Academy: Israel Al Abadoua (first name and family background stated in the transcript), a student who arrived from Syria in 2024, was introduced by the school principal and spoke briefly about academic progress and aspirations in nursing.
- School of the Arts: Hope Reddington, introduced by Annie Rosdahl (assistant principal), a senior dance major with extensive extracurriculars and plans to attend Wesleyan University.
- School Without Walls: Shamanique Monroe, introduced by Carly Morgan (English teacher), who offered brief remarks thanking educators and family.
- World of Inquiry (School 58): Shay Dickinson, introduced by Kallie Adler (principal), noted for a 90.39 GPA, college-level coursework and leadership roles.
- East High School: Maya Adams, introduced by Akua Kankim (principal), noted for 30-plus college credits, a 101.97 GPA and leadership roles including senior class president.
Throughout the program, presenters and district leaders highlighted the students’ academic accomplishments, community service and aspirations in health care, STEM, the arts and civic engagement. Speakers repeatedly connected those accomplishments to the event’s Susan B. Anthony theme, urging students to continue pursuing leadership and systemic change.
The evening also included logistical announcements for award photos and a group photo at the close of the program. The celebration concluded with closing remarks thanking families, district staff and community partners, including the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House.
