Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) recently celebrated 60 students who completed the requirements for a Maryland high school diploma in summer school. The students, along with their friends, family and staff from their respective high schools, gathered Aug. 2 at St. Charles High School for a summer commencement ceremony.

“Today is a celebration — we highlight a great accomplishment today,” Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., superintendent of schools, said. “We are here to celebrate 60 kids.”

Navarro spoke of perseverance and motivation, traits the graduates of the seven CCPS high schools possessed to earn their diplomas.  “For each of you, today marks not just the culmination of your high school journey but is also the acknowledgement of the many challenges you faced and overcame to arrive at this moment,” Navarro said to members of the Class of 2024. “Your journey to this point has taken a bit longer than perhaps what you might have expected. Today, I honor your perseverance and determination to keep going and reach this important milestone.”

While high school graduation is an occasion to be celebrated, Navarro urged the graduates to think beyond the ceremony, beyond the accomplishment. “Remember, success is not always measured by how quickly you get to your destination but by the strength and determination to finish no matter what,” Navarro said.

The following is a list of members of the Class of 2024 who earned their diplomas through summer school.  

La Plata High School

• Brooke L. Balik.
• Xavier M. Fletcher.
• Allison J. Fortiz.
• Aidan J. Hanley.
• Zachary P. Raymond.
• Carl A. Russell Jr.
• Amari J. Watkins.

Henry E. Lackey High School

• Elijah L. Allen.
• Ryan A. Bowie.
• Deanthony C. Chase.
• Jahiem T. Cobey.
• Kia-Jual D. Dunlap.
• LaTiya E. Gaines.
• Kayla Z. Lucas.
• Elijah M. Malivert.
• Sarah M. Smith.
• Masen J. Thompson.

Maurice J. McDonough High School

• Ethan Z. Akins.
• Matthew D. Anderson.
• William R. Cornette.
• Spencer A. Griffin Jr. 

North Point High School

• Mohamed K. Dioumessy.
• Javier A. Iwanow.
• Emily R. Wells.

St. Charles High School  

• Neliz A. Aguilar-Montoya.
• Toni R. Brown.
• Tayshaun J. Chesley.
• Kevin A. Echeverria Hernandez.
• Josiah D. Ennis.
• Avona D. Hall.
• Aniya A. Johnson.
• Davian R. Johnson.
• A'lonta' E. Marshall.
• Jason I. Perez Cruz.
• Antonio B. Robinson Jr.
• Wonyae T. Ross.
• Amadou S. Sow.
• Maycom O. Villanueva-Ortega.

Thomas Stone High School

• Veenas E. Benton.
• Nevaeh T. Brantley.
• Isaiah E. Caron.
• Kathryn R. Daniel.
• Joseph Garcia Lucero.
• Gudiel Garcia Zelaya.
• James C. Mayden.
• Edin G. Mejia Escobar.
• Katherine N. Menendez.
• Villalta Aaly'ana N. Morris.
• Zion L. Offutt.
• Serem R. Palmer.
• Jordan Jamaal Robinson.
• Erielle S. Smith.
• Jalen A. Stewart.

Westlake High School

• Tyler A. Blizzard.
• Zoe A. Crawford.
• Garrett M. Dyson Jr.
• Talee L. Holland.
• Omar B. Johnson.
• Kayla A. Matthews.
• Alex'avier R. Peralta.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.  CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).