Young, Gifted and Black at Portland Public Schools

On May 31, Portland Public Schools awarded 30 exceptional students, out of 150 nominations, at the 8th annual Young, Gifted and Black ceremony. 

Young, Gifted and Black is a program aimed at highlighting the success of Black students -- from kindergarten through 12th grade -- throughout PPS, and this year the school district recognized some of its most distinguished students and their families. 

The following students were selected for the 2017 Young, Gifted and Black:

1. Mariamou Abdoulaye
Benson Polytechnic High School

2. Yosha Auch-Kness
Metropolitan Learning Center

3. Chito Baleke
Roosevelt High School

4. Aliemah Bradley
Jefferson High School

5. Dominick Branch
Grant High School

6. Wesley Crawford
Wilson High School

7. Zawadi Doti
Cleveland High School

8. Matthew Dressa
Benson Polytechnic High School

9. Yvette Dumer
Franklin High School

10. Maya Fine
Lincoln High School

11. Donnell Hendrix
Creston K-8 School

12. Aojah Hill
Roosevelt High School

13. Sidney Jones
Grant High School

14. Adia Jones
Jackson Middle School

15. Gloria Kitanga
Sellwood Middle School

16. Brynn Ladd
KairosPDX

17. Wilondja Mashimango
Madison High School

18. Akil Mitchell
Buckman Elementary School

19. Florence Monique
Robert Gray Middle School

20. Michael Morgan
Benson Polytechnic High School

21. Mucai Muthubi
Cleveland High School

22. Dylan Palmer
Grant High School

23. Marquis Penn
Grant High School

24. Solianna Seid
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School PK-8

25. Bobbie Steen
Alliance High School

26. Tehya Tate
Franklin High School

27. Henok Techeste
Lincoln High School

28. Alanna Valerio-Mendieta
Mount Tabor Middle School

29. Jazzimine Watkins
Franklin High School

30. Kamaria Watson
Roosevelt High School