DC Charter School Alliance Celebrates Summer Charter School Graduates
Last week, the DC Charter School Alliance teamed up with our friends at the DC Public Charter School Board to host the annual summer public charter school graduation ceremony, affectionately known as "Rainbow Graduation." This heartwarming annual celebration honors DC public charter school students' determination and commitment to completing their high school education.
This year's ceremony was held at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library in northwest, and featured nearly fifty graduates from ten DC public charter schools: César Chávez PCS for Public Policy, Friendship Collegiate PCS, Friendship Tech Prep PCS, IDEA PCS, KIPP DC College Prep PCS, KIPP DC Legacy College Prep PCS, PAUL PCS, SEED PCS, Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS, and Washington Leadership Academy PCS.
Families, friends, teachers, and students from across the District gathered to celebrate this milestone as graduates move on to the next chapter of their lives.
Left: DC PCSB Board Chair Shantelle Wright, DC Charter School Alliance Executive Director Ariel Johnson, DC State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoinette Mitchell, Pastor Stephawn Lindsay, and DC PCSB Executive Director Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis.
DC Charter School Alliance Executive Director Ariel Johnson kicked off the ceremony by offering well-wishes to graduates and introducing DC State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoniette Mitchell, who took the stage for her congratulatory address and gave the graduates a sage piece of advice: "Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams, and don't be afraid to pursue those dreams in a big way." she said, adding "The determination and persistence you showed to get this diploma is the determination and persistence that can take you through the rest of your life."
L-R: DC Charter School Alliance Executive Director Ariel Johnson, DC State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoinette Mitchell.
Student speaker Karmen Brandon, a graduate of César Chávez PCS for Public Policy, applauded her fellow graduates, saying: "This moment is ours. Every challenge we've faced, every late night, every doubt we overcame, we made it. We are proof that no matter how hard it gets, we keep moving forward."
L-R: Student Speaker Karmen Brandon, Keynote Speaker Stephawn Lindsay, and DC PCSB Executive Director Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis.
Then came an electric keynote address from Stephawn Lindsay, Global Young Adult Pastor at Zion Baptist Church, youth advocate, and chaplain for the Washington Wizards.
Pastor Steph reminded the audience of the importance of prioritizing hope, even when it feels like the odds are against you. He shared a story from his school years, saying, "I didn't think I had the mindset, I didn't think I was smart enough. Somehow, I just couldn't seem to get right." He added, "But somehow, someway, somebody came to talk to me, and that person is called Hope…Hope is here to tell you that you gotta keep going no matter what's in front of you."
Following Pastor Steph’s keynote address, Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis, Executive Director of the DC Public Charter School Board, took the stage to officially confer the graduates’ degrees.
Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn and DC Council members Matthew Frumin (D-Ward 3), Janesse Lewis George (D-Ward 4), Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), Anita Bonds (D-At large), Christina Henderson (I-At large), and Kenyan McDuffie (I-At large) wrote letters congratulating the graduates on their achievement, which were included in the program. A congratulatory video message from Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) was played at the beginning of the ceremony.
Following the event, student speaker Karmen Brandon spoke with DC News Now about her plans for the future. She shared that she will be applying to cosmetology school and hopes to open a business! Whatever the future may hold for the class of 2025 summer graduates, we wish them the best of luck as they pursue their dreams and show the world what DC Charter alums are capable of. We have no doubt that these resilient and determined graduates will accomplish great things.
Rainbow Graduation is more than a moment to celebrate completing high school–It is a testament to the trials and tribulations each student pushed through to accomplish a goal. Their grit, ambition, and unwillingness to let life's obstacles stand in their way is inspiring, and each of these qualities will undoubtedly serve them well in the next chapter of their life. The DC Charter School Alliance would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2025!
