Grafton Street School Singers perform while being conducted by teacher Shah Salmi in the photo above.
Many Worcester Public Schools students participated in the 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Celebration at Worcester State University on Saturday, January 18.
North High senior Elli Kradetska and Mayor Joseph Petty.
North High senior Elli Kradetska, who arrived in the U.S. from Ukraine, received the MLK Jr. Community Service Award and a Key to the City from Mayor Petty. She spoke about the need to keep the terrible conflicts in Ukraine and other parts of the world in public discussion.
Anthony Barbosa and Mayor Joseph Petty
WPS Alumnus Anthony Barbosa also received the Youth Service Award for his work with American Pyramids and Summer Jam Classic.
The Burncoat High Spirit Team performs.
There were numerous student performances, including the Grafton Street School Singers and the Burncoat High Spirit Team.
Worcester Youth Poet Laureate, Serenity Jackson, a senior at Worcester Technical High School, was scheduled to recite her work.
Twenty-three WPS students were named as winners of the MLK Breakfast Poetry Contest:
Dea Kamberi, grade 12, Doherty Memorial High School
Jaliene Matias, grade 12, Doherty Memorial High School
Anita Konneh, grade 12, North High School
Kristen Doan, grade 11, South High Community School
Rediet Abayneh, grade 11, University Park Campus School
Darielys Bautista Rodriguez, grade 11, University Park Campus School
Darlene Hang, grade 11, University Park Campus School
Kawther Naji, grade 11, University Park Campus School
Nathan Muratwa, grade 11, University Park Campus School
Skyleen Solano, grade 11, University Park Campus School
Kayla Doan, grade 10, South High Community School
Luca Valentino Mailloux, grade 10, South High Community School
Wensly Tejada, grade 10, University Park Campus School
Jarilyn Colon-Ramirez, grade 10, University Park Campus School
Jeidon Langa, grade 10, University Park Campus School
Mackenzie O’Brien, grade 9, Doherty Memorial High School
Grace Ellen Johnsen, grade 9, Worcester Technical High School
Sara Chheda, grade 8, Burncoat Middle School
Miles Lefebvre, grade 8, Burncoat Middle School
Serena Kosta, grade 8, Burncoat Middle School
Page Koza, grade 8, Burncoat Middle School
Barrna Krishna, grade 7, Burncoat Middle School
Staff from Worcester Technical High School
School Committee member Sue Mailman, State Senator Robyn Kennedy, and WPS Superintendent Dr. Rachel Monárrez