VIEW THE VIRUAL CELEBRATION
View at anytime the special virtual awards ceremony to honor all the nominated arts students and leaders, to formally recognize their accomplishment, and to celebrate the many momentous opportunities to come.
Award Winners
Cecelia Crowe
Cecilia Crowe is a visual artist from Mendham, New Jersey, and currently is a senior at Gill St. Bernards School.…
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…
Quincy Eby
Quincy Eby 15, commenced his musical journey at age 5 as a violinist under the guidance of Dorothy Kaplan Roffman,…
Miles Eby
Miles Eby (15) is the student of Grammy Award winning pianist Ms. Kazuko Hayami. At age 9 Miles auditioned and…
Makayla C. Rivera
My name is Makayla Rivera, I am a sophomore at West Orange High School, in West Orange, New Jersey. I…
Nia Hipps
Nia Hipps is a graduating senior from Moorestown Friends School as a part of the Class of 2022. She has…
Nyla Frisbey
Nyla Frisbey is an eighteen-year-old senior attending Gloucester County Institute of Technology. There, she studies dance as a part of…
Samantha Mendez
Samantha Mendez is a seventeen year old sophomore at Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey where she is enrolled…
Azyah Fair
Hello, my name is Azyah Fair. I am in the class of 2025 currently attending Newark School of Global Studies…
Vivian Yuan
Vivian is a junior at Ridgewood High School. She is a graphics editor at the high school news club, Ridgewood…
Abigail Schwartz
Abigail is 16 years old and a Junior at Ramsey High School. She has been active in the arts from…
Italy Ja’rae Lee
Italy is currently a junior at the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy. She finds great delight in dissecting poems and analyzing…
Layla Sayed
My name is Layla Sayed and I am a senior at Frank J Cicarell High School in Elizabeth New Jersey.…
Justin Black
Justin Black is a junior at Phillipsburg High School and is currently the Debate Captain, a class officer, and a…
Julia Bang
Julia Bang is a sophomore at Pascack Hills High School. Julia plays the clarinet and has played the piano for…
Veronique Waters
My name is Veronique, but everyone calls me Veve. I am a high school senior and going to an HBCU…
Keva Torres
Keva Torres is 16 years old and is a junior at Bridgewater Raritan High School. She has lived in this…
Joey Miller
Joey Miller is an 18-year-old high school senior from Haddon Township, New Jersey. Although an honor roll student and a…
Brianna Dunn
Hello! My name is Brianna (Bri) Dunn. I am a senior at High Point Regional High School in Sussex County.…
Cormac Dow
I’m a senior artist and track athlete from Hopewell Valley Central High School. For my whole life I have had…
Julia Brock
Julia Brock is a student at Voorhees High School and Hunterdon County Polytech. She was born in Flemington, NJ and…
Brian Migliaccio
Brian Migliaccio is a junior at Phillipsburg High School. He is the president of the Chess Club, Vice President of…
Dr. Jane Graziano
Dr. Graziano is a Professor of Art Education in the Department of STEAM Education, College of Education. She holds an…
Brianna De Witt
Brianna DeWitt is an arts educator at West Deptford High School, in South Jersey. She holds a BA in Education…
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…
Sean Ford
Sean Ford is a bright 7th grader at Great Oaks Legacy Fairmount Heights Charter School in Newark. He is an…
Jasmine Lewin
Jasmine Lewin, known as Jazzy by her friends and family, is currently a senior at Chatham High School and will…
Katreena Deodatt
Katreena Deodatt was born on July 21st, 2004. She is a senior at Essex County Newark Tech, She is Co-Captain…
Ella Williams
Ella Williams is a young screenwriter and actor. She has performed in numerous school plays, the most recent being Big…
Abigail Lee
Sophomore, Class of 2024.
Zyhri Williams
Senior at Newark Tech High school and Co-Captain of the policy debate team.
Courtney Sabogal
Courtney is a senior at Hightstown High School and is the president of the HHS Drama Club. She is in…
Gia Scozzaro
Gia Scozzaro is a senior at Bordentown Regional High School proud to be representing Troupe #6803. She is honored to…
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,…
Karen Gorzynski
MRS. KAREN GORZYNSKI is the Director of Choral Activities at Somerville High School, NJ where she is currently celebrating her…
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…
Bryan Liu
Bryan has been an active member on Ridge Forensics for four years. He’s competed in events like Duo Interpretation 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…
Raymond Shay
Raymond Shay is the founding coach of the middle school speech & debate team at Princeton Academy of the Sacred…
Nyla Frisbey
Nyla Frisbey is a senior attending The School of Performing Arts at Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT). Nyla first…
Emily Saito
Emily Saito’s zest and passion for dance started at the age of 4 in Japan, studying Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz,…
Alisha Edwards
Music has always been a part of Alisha Edwards life, her mother would sing to her and have dancing parties…
Felix Tavarez
Felix Tavarez is a Latino dancer and senior at Union City High School. He has participated as a dancer in…
Dominic Roberts
I am currently a senior dance major at Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Upon graduation my plans are to attend…
Amanda Magee
Amanda Magee, residing in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is a Junior attending the Academy for Performing Arts. She is a…
Maya Brown
Maya Brown is honored to be receiving the ArtPride NJ Distinguished Arts Advocate Award from New Jersey Thespians for her…
Isabel Shi
Isabel Shi is a senior at Bergen County Academies (BCA), where she is in the Academy for Visual & Performing…
Jalyn Postadan
Jalyn Postadan is a 17-year-old from New Jersey and currently trains at the OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy and the…
Seth Peiris
Seth Peiris is a senior and valedictorian of his graduating class at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ. Both a…
Wesley Sanders
Wesley Sanders is a senior at Vernon Township High School. He is the principal tubist of his school’s Wind Ensemble,…
Kathleen Zhang
Kathleen is currently a senior at The Peddie School. She has played cello for eight years and has been a…
Geetika Komati
Geetika Komati is a senior and double bassist at Livingston High School in Livingston, NJ. She currently studies under Mr.…
Mark Escarilla
Mark Escarrilla has been attending Deptford Township School District since pre-K. He has been playing the alto saxophone since 4th…
Colin John Covington
Colin Covington is a Junior at Delran High School in Delran, New Jersey, where he loves to share the gift…
Michael Thompson
Michael Thompson is a sophomore at GCIT in the Drama Program. He is illuminated to receive the Governor’s award. Recent…
Caelen Mahoney
Caelen Mahoney is a Senior at Saddle Brook High School. She is the Student Director of Choirs at SBHS in…
Skyler Reed Lipkind
Skyler Reed Lipkind is a sophomore at Westfield High School. Skyler has been passionate about music, singing, and performing from…
Colin McMahon
Colin McMahon is a senior at GCIT in the Drama Program. He is very grateful to receive the Governor’s Award…
Anna Johns
HI! I am Anna Johns. I am currently a student at Cumberland Regional High School. I started participating in shows at…
Yejin Lee
I am a high school junior and I have been dedicating the past three years to Forensics Speech and Debate.…
Tanay Vysyaraju
My name is Tanay Vysyaraju and I am a junior at Montville Township Highschool. I have been doing debate for…
Khush Parikh
My name is Khush Parikh and I am a junior at Montville Township Highschool. I have been doing debate for…
Jake Model
Jake Model, a senior from Summit High School, is honored to accept this award. He has been successful in his…
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…
Melinda Deng
Melinda Deng has always been surrounded by the arts. In particular, she enjoys various speech events, with International Extemporaneous speaking…
Sarah Walsh
Sarah is beyond excited to have won this year’s state championship in humorous interpretation! She is a Freshman at Summit…
Chloe Yang
Chloe Yang is currently a sophomore at Ridge High school in Basking Ridge and a part of the class of…
Humphrey Chen
During his four years of speech and debate, Humphrey Chen has competed in Humorous Interpretation, Declamation, Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking,…
Wendy Mapes
Wendy Mapes studied acting at the New Actors Workshop in NYC and has an MA in Theatre from Antioch University.…
Haley Eder
Haley Eder is a Junior at Hunterdon Central. She started acting in middle school and has been a part of…
Molly Magee
Molly Magee is a junior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. She recently played Madame Thenardier in their high school…
Duncan Schengrund
Duncan Schengrund is 16 years old and a Sophomore at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. He has been involved with…
Vic Komosinski
Vic is a junior. Although her theatre repertoire is limited since much of her time is spent fencing for Hunterdon…
Jenna Castellano
Jenna is 17 and a junior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Growing up, she has devoted much of her…
Noah Conk
Noah is a senior at Hunterdon Central and he has been doing theater ever since he was a little kid.…
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…
Miguel Cabelin
I’m Miguel Cabelin and I love film, theater, and music!
Caleb Demmerle
Caleb Demmerle is the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Award in the arts for Improvisational Pairs with his partner Carmen…
Bailey Croft
Bailey Ann Croft is a senior at Cranford High School and is absolutely delighted to be a recipient of the…
Victoria Evanchick
Victoria Evanchick is thrilled to be a recipient of two Governors Awards in Arts Education. In 2022, she has received…
Kara Gaddish
Kara Gaddish is 18 years old senior and fell in love with acting her junior year is thinks she really…
CLASS OF 2020
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 this year, our #NJARTSEDPROUD spirit remains the same.
The virtual ceremony includes award winning storyteller Queen Nur as the Master of Ceremonies, remarks from state officials, messages from our alumni, and performances from past and present award recipients.
Congratulations, Class of 2020.
A MESSSAGE FROM
Governor Phil Murphy
The 2020 Awards
Alumni Master of Ceremonies
PERSPECTIVES
Dr. Dale Schmid
Kevin O'Brien
PAST & PRESENT RECIPIENT
PERFORMANCES
CLASS OF 2020
EVENT PROGRAM
The annual publication of students’ and leaders’ names, listed by nominating organization
LET’S CELEBRATE TOGETHER
DOWNLOAD GRAPHICS
VIRTUAL PHOTOBOOTH
Celebrate with us at home
VIRTUAL Awards 2020
BEST WISHES
Messages from our Friends & Sponsors
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES
- Submit your Congrats to the Class of 2020
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- Ally Cordero, this prestigious award could not have been given to a more humble, dedicated, hard-working and prolific artist. Your documentation of your personal, cultural and intellectual experiences provides a glimpse into your journey as a young woman, student and artist that is beyond your years and profoundly inspiring. I am so proud of you! - Mercedes Ingenito, Visual Arts Teacher Randolph High School
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- I know this time has been hard, but I just want to say congratulations you made it and what is happening will be over soon. - Ashley Taitt
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- Anna - We are so proud and love you so much! You have been such a trooper through this and can only wait for your future achievements. Love, Mama
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- Congratulations Anna So very Proud of you. - Pattie-Jo Siegel
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- Congratulations on a well earned award. We are extremely proud of you. You thrilled us with your talents throughout high school. Our only regret is that we will never see you on that Montville stage. Continued success at Rutgers. We will always keep you in our prayers. - Luv, Babci & Pop.
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- Congratulations to GCACT-SO students Blair Brown and Bryce Clemenson Governor's Awards in Arts Education 2020 winners, proud of you both!! - Carol Dove
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- Congratulations Priscilla, you are an amazing and talented student. Your Payne Tech family is proud of you. Keep up the great work. - Anibal Ponce
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- Priscilla, You are truly a Star! Payne Tech is so proud of you! From Ms. Emily Bonilla Vice Principal & Arts Supervisor - Priscilla Pagan
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- Congratulations, Priscilla Pagan - Carmen Colon-Burgos
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- Priscilla Pagan, I am so, so proud of you! Congratulations! Keep dancing and keep dreaming! - Mrs. Smith
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- Way to go Anna! So proud of you! - Love, Daddy.
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- So proud of your accomplishments, Priscilla Pagán! Continued success in your future endeavors! ~Señorita González
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- Congrats Olivia Miller!! You are an amazing young artist!-Mrs. Stahl
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- Anna - So proud of you and your dedication to your singing! I’ve got a feeling this is only the beginning of even more great things to come for you! Congratulations on this prestigious award!! Love you! - Christine Stabile
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- Congratulations to my beautiful and talented niece Priscilla we are so very proud of you and all your accomplishments. GOD BLESS! - LOVE TITI DENISE, TASHA & ARIANNA
