2022 New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education
LIVE & IN PERSON CELEBRATION
Patriot’s Theatre at the War Memorial Trenton, New Jersey
Red Carpet at the War Memorial in Trenton
CLASS OF 2022
CELEBRATING YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Each year, it is our honor to welcome 100 arts students and 20 leaders to celebrate with their loved ones and our arts community during the annual awards ceremony. While the awards looks quite different in years past, our #NJARTSEDPROUD spirit remains the same.
We are excited to welcome you back to the stage to celebrate in person with the Class of 2020 & 2021 The program will include remarks from state officials, messages from our alumni, and performances from past and present award recipients.
Congratulations, Class of 2022.
Class of 2022
Abigail Lee
Sophomore, Class of 2024.
Abigail Schwartz
Abigail is 16 years old and a Junior at Ramsey High School. She has been active in the arts from…
Alexander Gallegos
Performing is a passion for Alex. He has had multiple supporting roles in various stage plays, musicals, and has been…
Alisha Edwards
Music has always been a part of Alisha Edwards life, her mother would sing to her and have dancing parties…
Amanda Magee
Amanda Magee, residing in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is a Junior attending the Academy for Performing Arts. She is a…
Amarilis Mancelli
Amarilis Mancelli is a freshman at Morristown High School. She spends a lot of her free-time writing poetry and journaling! Her favorite class…
Amron Salgado
Amron Salgado is a junior at GCIT in the Drama program. He will be spending the summer in New York…
Anna Johns
HI! I am Anna Johns. I am currently a student at Cumberland Regional High School. I started participating in shows at…
Aubrey Colbert
Aubrey Colbert is a senior at the EHT High School. She has a passion for all aspects of theater including…
Azyah Fair
Hello, my name is Azyah Fair. I am in the class of 2025 currently attending Newark School of Global Studies…
Bailey Croft
Bailey Ann Croft is a senior at Cranford High School and is absolutely delighted to be a recipient of the…
Brian Migliaccio
Brian Migliaccio is a junior at Phillipsburg High School. He is the president of the Chess Club, Vice President of…
Brianna De Witt
Brianna DeWitt is an arts educator at West Deptford High School, in South Jersey. She holds a BA in Education…
Brianna Dunn
Hello! My name is Brianna (Bri) Dunn. I am a senior at High Point Regional High School in Sussex County.…
Bryan Liu
Bryan has been an active member on Ridge Forensics for four years. He’s competed in events like Duo Interpretation and…
Caelen Mahoney
Caelen Mahoney is a Senior at Saddle Brook High School. She is the Student Director of Choirs at SBHS in…
Caleb Demmerle
Caleb Demmerle is the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Award in the arts for Improvisational Pairs with his partner Carmen…
Carmen Matarazzo
Carmen Matarazzo is a three time Governor’s Award winner at the annual STANJ Governor’s Awards in Arts Theatre Competition. In…
Cecelia Crowe
Cecilia Crowe is a visual artist from Mendham, New Jersey, and currently is a senior at Gill St. Bernards School.…
Charles Williams IV
Charles Williams IV is a high school Senior, graduating in the class of 2022 from Acellus Academy. Charles has participated…
Chloe Yang
Chloe Yang is currently a sophomore at Ridge High school in Basking Ridge and a part of the class of…
Christopher Bracco
Christopher Bracco is the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s award in arts for dramatic pairs with his partner Katrina Erdin…
Colin John Covington
Colin Covington is a Junior at Delran High School in Delran, New Jersey, where he loves to share the gift…
Colin McMahon
Colin McMahon is a senior at GCIT in the Drama Program. He is very grateful to receive the Governor’s Award…
Cormac Dow
I’m a senior artist and track athlete from Hopewell Valley Central High School. For my whole life I have had…
Courtney Sabogal
Courtney is a senior at Hightstown High School and is the president of the HHS Drama Club. She is in…
Dominic Roberts
I am currently a senior dance major at Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Upon graduation my plans are to attend…
Dr. Jane Graziano
Dr. Graziano is a Professor of Art Education in the Department of STEAM Education, College of Education. She holds an…
Duncan Schengrund
Duncan Schengrund is 16 years old and a Sophomore at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. He has been involved with…
Ella Williams
Ella Williams is a young screenwriter and actor. She has performed in numerous school plays, the most recent being Big…
Emily Saito
Emily Saito’s zest and passion for dance started at the age of 4 in Japan, studying Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz,…
Felix Tavarez
Felix Tavarez is a Latino dancer and senior at Union City High School. He has participated as a dancer in…
Gabriel De Los Santos
My name is Gabriel de los Santos, I live in Kearny, New Jersey and I’m in my senior year of…
Geetika Komati
Geetika Komati is a senior and double bassist at Livingston High School in Livingston, NJ. She currently studies under Mr.…
Gia Scozzaro
Gia Scozzaro is a senior at Bordentown Regional High School proud to be representing Troupe #6803. She is honored to…
Gianna Butcher
Gianna Butcher is the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Award in the arts for Best Actress through STANJ (Speech and…
Glory Okonkwo
Glory Okonkwo is a 17-year-old senior at Central High School. As a member of the Central High School Speech and…
Haley Eder
Haley Eder is a Junior at Hunterdon Central. She started acting in middle school and has been a part of…
Humphrey Chen
During his four years of speech and debate, Humphrey Chen has competed in Humorous Interpretation, Declamation, Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking,…
Ibrahim Kargbo
Ibrahim Kargbo is honored to be receiving a Governor’s Award from New Jersey Thespians for his group performance of “Some…
Isabel Shi
Isabel Shi is a senior at Bergen County Academies (BCA), where she is in the Academy for Visual & Performing…
Isabella Ibe
My name is Isabella Beluchi Ibe. I was born in Hollywood, FL, raised in North Brunswick, NJ and now reside…
Italy Ja’rae Lee
Italy is currently a junior at the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy. She finds great delight in dissecting poems and analyzing…
Jake Model
Jake Model, a senior from Summit High School, is honored to accept this award. He has been successful in his…
Jalyn Postadan
Jalyn Postadan is a 17-year-old from New Jersey and currently trains at the OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy and the…
Jasmine Lewin
Jasmine Lewin, known as Jazzy by her friends and family, is currently a senior at Chatham High School and will…
Jenna Castellano
Jenna is 17 and a junior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Growing up, she has devoted much of her…
Joey Miller
Joey Miller is an 18-year-old high school senior from Haddon Township, New Jersey. Although an honor roll student and a…
Jordan McKinney
Jordan McKinney is a senior a part of the class of 2022 at Camden County Technical School. Her schedule has…
Julia Bang
Julia Bang is a sophomore at Pascack Hills High School. Julia plays the clarinet and has played the piano for…
Julia Brock
Julia Brock is a student at Voorhees High School and Hunterdon County Polytech. She was born in Flemington, NJ and…
Julia Hill
Julia is a senior at Princeton High School. She’s been involved in several productions at her school including the 2020…
Justin Black
Justin Black is a junior at Phillipsburg High School and is currently the Debate Captain, a class officer, and a…
Kara Gaddish
Kara Gaddish is 18 years old senior and fell in love with acting her junior year is thinks she really…
Karen Gorzynski
MRS. KAREN GORZYNSKI is the Director of Choral Activities at Somerville High School, NJ where she is currently celebrating her…
Kathleen Zhang
Kathleen is currently a senior at The Peddie School. She has played cello for eight years and has been a…
Katreena Deodatt
Katreena Deodatt was born on July 21st, 2004. She is a senior at Essex County Newark Tech, She is Co-Captain…
Katrina Erdin
Katrina Erdin is the 2022 recipient of the Governors Award in arts for Dramatic Pairs with Christopher Bracco through STANJ…
Keva Torres
Keva Torres is 16 years old and is a junior at Bridgewater Raritan High School. She has lived in this…
Khush Parikh
My name is Khush Parikh and I am a junior at Montville Township Highschool. I have been doing debate for…
Layla Sayed
My name is Layla Sayed and I am a senior at Frank J Cicarell High School in Elizabeth New Jersey.…
Makayla C. Rivera
My name is Makayla Rivera, I am a sophomore at West Orange High School, in West Orange, New Jersey. I…
Mark Escarilla
Mark Escarrilla has been attending Deptford Township School District since pre-K. He has been playing the alto saxophone since 4th…
Matthew Woodward
Matt is humbled to be given the Governor’s Award. As a Senior, Matt has been doing theater and performing since…
Maxwell Hollis
Maxwell Hollis is a sophomore at GCIT in the Drama Program. He is grateful to receive the Governor’s Award in…
Maya Brown
Maya Brown is honored to be receiving the ArtPride NJ Distinguished Arts Advocate Award from New Jersey Thespians for her…
Melinda Deng
Melinda Deng has always been surrounded by the arts. In particular, she enjoys various speech events, with International Extemporaneous speaking…
Michael Thompson
Michael Thompson is a sophomore at GCIT in the Drama Program. He is illuminated to receive the Governor’s award. Recent…
Miguel Cabelin
I’m Miguel Cabelin and I love film, theater, and music!
Miles Eby
Miles Eby (15) is the student of Grammy Award winning pianist Ms. Kazuko Hayami. At age 9 Miles auditioned and…
Molly Magee
Molly Magee is a junior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. She recently played Madame Thenardier in their high school…
Nia Hipps
Nia Hipps is a graduating senior from Moorestown Friends School as a part of the Class of 2022. She has…
Noah Conk
Noah is a senior at Hunterdon Central and he has been doing theater ever since he was a little kid.…
Nyla Frisbey
Nyla Frisbey is a senior attending The School of Performing Arts at Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT). Nyla first…
Nyla Frisbey
Nyla Frisbey is an eighteen-year-old senior attending Gloucester County Institute of Technology. There, she studies dance as a part of…
Olivia Belasco
Liv Belasco is a 17-year-old junior at Wildwood Catholic Academy, and she is from North Wildwood. Liv is the Vice President…
Quincy Eby
Quincy Eby 15, commenced his musical journey at age 5 as a violinist under the guidance of Dorothy Kaplan Roffman,…
Rachel Thornton
Rachel Thornton is a sophomore at Hopewell Valley Central High School in New Jersey. She has worked in technical theater since…
Ramamurty Pantula
Hi I’m Ram! I’m a junior at Montville Township who loves Science and Public Speaking! I’m the VP of our…
Raymond Shay
Raymond Shay is the founding coach of the middle school speech & debate team at Princeton Academy of the Sacred…
Robin Piccapietra
Robin Piccapietra grew up on Long Island and attended SUNY Buffalo graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business with…
Roselita Cabelin
Roselita Cabelin is a Senior at Hoboken High School. She has been active in the school’s theatre program since she…
Ryan McDermott
Ryan McDermott is a Senior at GCIT in the Drama Program. He had most recently been seen as Amos Hart…
Samantha Mendez
Samantha Mendez is a seventeen year old sophomore at Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey where she is enrolled…
Sarah Walsh
Sarah is beyond excited to have won this year’s state championship in humorous interpretation! She is a Freshman at Summit…
Sean Ford
Sean Ford is a bright 7th grader at Great Oaks Legacy Fairmount Heights Charter School in Newark. He is an…
Seth Peiris
Seth Peiris is a senior and valedictorian of his graduating class at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ. Both a…
Skyler Reed Lipkind
Skyler Reed Lipkind is a sophomore at Westfield High School. Skyler has been passionate about music, singing, and performing from…
Sophia Aciego
Sophia is a senior at West Milford High School. She was in many musicals including the Highland Stage productions of…
Surya Narla
Co-President of Hunterdon Central Speech and Debate Team 2022 NJ Congressional Debate State Champion #1 Ranked Big Questions Debater in…
Thea Rind
Thea Rind, a senior from Summit High School, is beyond honored to accept this award. Along with her duo partner,…
Trent Luck
Trent Luck is humbled to be receiving a Governors Awards from New Jersey Thespians with his group that performed Some…
Veronique Waters
My name is Veronique, but everyone calls me Veve. I am a high school senior and going to an HBCU…
Vic Komosinski
Vic is a junior. Although her theatre repertoire is limited since much of her time is spent fencing for Hunterdon…
Victoria Evanchick
Victoria Evanchick is thrilled to be a recipient of two Governors Awards in Arts Education. In 2022, she has received…
Victoria Evanchick
Victoria Evanchick is thrilled to be a recipient of two Governors Awards in Arts Education. In 2022, she has received…
Vivian Yuan
Vivian is a junior at Ridgewood High School. She is a graphics editor at the high school news club, Ridgewood…
Wendy Mapes
Wendy Mapes studied acting at the New Actors Workshop in NYC and has an MA in Theatre from Antioch University.…
Wesley Sanders
Wesley Sanders is a senior at Vernon Township High School. He is the principal tubist of his school’s Wind Ensemble,…
Yejin Lee
I am a high school junior and I have been dedicating the past three years to Forensics Speech and Debate.…
The 2022 Awards
PERSPECTIVES
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES
- Submit your Congrats to the Class of 2020
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- Congratulations to Malachi Carter on being nominated for the Governor’s Awards. We’re very proud of you. - Gloucester County ACT-SO - Ms. Carol, Ms LaRae
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- Congratulations to Sierra Hicks on being nominated for the NJ Governor’s Awards.- Gloucester County ACT-SO - Ms. Carol, Ms. LaRae
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- Congratulations Malachi. You are the best. I am so proud of you. Keep up the good work. - Patrice Carter
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- Congratulations to all the NJ ACT-SO students nominated for the 2021 Governor’s Awards. We are proud of you all.. - Carol Dove, NJ ACT-SO Governor’s Awards Coordinator
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- Malachi, You deserve this accolade and more. Enjoy the moment, but keep climbing! Something amazing is on the horizon. - Enrique Walnut
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- Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment. So very proud to watch as you are excelling in life....keep up the great work and the sky is your only limit...CONGRATULATIONS!!! - Stephanie Kaloko
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- Congratulations to my Woogness!!! Very proud of the man you’re becoming. I love you. - Danielle Carter
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- Congratulations Malachi! You are an outstanding young man who deserves this recognition. Your hard work and dedication have been an inspiration to all those around you and we are so proud that others are taking notice. We wish you all the best! May your future be as bright as your past. - Love, Sylvester Dixon, and family
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- Malichi you got this and it’s well deserved. Nothing is given it is earned by hard work and determination! Achieve young man achieve !!! - Hurshel Richardson
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- I'm so proud of you my little big cousin. Anything you put your mind to you will succeed. You are kind, you are gentle and you are humble. Congratulations you deserve this award. Keep your head up and keep reaching BEYOND THE STARS. You got this way to go. I love you mal - Kern Edwards
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- Congratulations! Acknowledgment for good work is the impetus for more good work! - Joy Tucker
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- Sending you a heart congratulations, Malachi Carter! Wishing you lots of success with your future endeavors! - Councilwoman Danielle M. Jones
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- Congratulations to the 2021 ACT-SO Governors Award recipients. Winning this award should be an extremely proud moment for you. Your supporters recommended you because your hard work showed you deserved it. Much success, - Valerie Pierce
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- Congratulations young man. You make us all so proud. - Malachi Carter
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A Special Thank You to Our 2022 Sponsors
Additional support is provided by: Art Pride New Jersey Foundation, NJ Department of Education, the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics Program; Art Educators of New Jersey; Art Administrators of New Jersey; Dance New Jersey; New Jersey Council of Teachers of English; New Jersey Speech and Debate League; New Jersey Music Educators Association; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey, NJ Poetry Out Loud Program; Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey Thespians, Appel Farm Music & Arts Campus and Gallery Aferro.
