On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the Carver Community Center was filled with pride, applause, and joyful celebration as we hosted our 53rd Annual Testimonial Dinner. Families, educators, donors, and friends came together to recognize the remarkable achievements of our young people—from elementary school to college.
This cherished annual tradition honors the hard work and growth of Carver students in our Youth Development Program (YDP) and awards college scholarships to graduating high school seniors and continuing college students. Thanks to the generosity of Carver’s donors and scholarship funders, we awarded $150,000 in scholarships this year—an investment in the futures of the next generation of leaders, scholars, and changemakers.
The evening began with an inspiring keynote from Dr. Smana Seradieu, followed by a festive dinner for all honorees and their families. Carver proudly recognized Students of the Year and Most Improved Students across our school-based programs, middle schools, and high schools.
This is the cover of a book of photos about the Carver/NicaPhoto experience.
Dr. Smana Seradieu
Dr. Seradieu’s connection to Carver runs deep. In 2011, as a sophomore at Norwalk High School, she was among a group of Carver students who traveled to Nicaragua for Carver’s first-ever international service trip. The students had been corresponding with peers in Nagarote for a year through a Carver after-school initiative called NicaPhoto. That spring, they finally met in person, working side by side to paint a mural outside a school, plant trees, and install a sustainable vegetable garden. They even raised $700 to help build a one-room home for a needy family.
At the time, Smana, who had moved to Norwalk from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2008 without speaking English, told The Hour, “It means a lot to us to be able to help. I come from a place where I've seen people like this, people in need."
Today, Dr. Seradieu is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a Doctorate in Social Work, leading a life of service and leadership in the fields of mental health and social work. She is the Director of Social Services at CareOne in New Jersey and a consultant for Verrazano Nursing and Post-Acute Center in Staten Island. She is also the founder of Change for Haitian Youth, an organization that creates educational opportunities for children in her hometown of Marchand Dessaline, Haiti.
Her return to Carver as keynote speaker was a full-circle moment that inspired everyone attending the Carver Testimonial Dinner, especially the young students just beginning their own Carver journeys.
Scholarship and Recognition Highlights
Elementary Programs
Brookside Scholars: Student of the Year – Theodore Lefevre; Most Improved – Sulmin Coloch-Tzunun
CASPER: Student of the Year – Camiola Ramirez; Most Improved – Sanjay Labaze
CASPER Graduates: Zamayra Ayo, Faith Hawkins, Marlens Pierre, Milan Ramsubhag
Fox Run Scholars: Student of the Year – Derius Sharpe; Most Improved – Lizbeth Garcia
Jefferson Scholars: Students of the Year – Ian Benitez and Selena Perez; Most Improved – Juan Pablo Gonzalez
Kendall Scholars: Student of the Year – Elisama Caceres; Most Improved – Caleb Pote
Marvin Scholars: Student of the Year – Valentina Gutierrez; Most Improved – Lisandro Moran
Naramake Scholars: Students of the Year – Zacharie Gianne and Libang Herrera; Most Improved – Theodore Lynch
Silvermine Scholars: Student of the Year – Lorena Quintana; Most Improved – Santiago Mesa
Tracey Scholars: Student of the Year – Michaela Potter; Most Improved – Trinity Ford
Middle Schools
Nathan Hale: Student of the Year – Lucas Cuevas (6th), Natalia Valdovinos (7th), Leo Pascuilli (8th)
Most Improved – Jaiden & Arianna Andrews (6th), Sophia Munoz (7th), Jayden Massey (8th)Ponus Pride: Students of the Year – Jannatul Ferdous (6th), Valentina Davila (7th), Wayne Hamilton (8th)
Most Improved – Amairany Mandujano (6th), Rida Deura (7th), Rosmer Mejia (8th)Roton RAMS: Students of the Year – Yamilet Lopez (6th), Mayda Icena (7th), Jacob Diaz (8th)
Most Improved – Maykol Melgar (6th), Veadale Russell (7th), Alexa Flores (8th)West Rocks PAWS: Students of the Year – Noel Segovia (6th), Sebastian Pico (7th), Leilani Berberena (8th)
Most Improved – Joshie Pendergrast (6th), Derek Padilla (7th), Anthony “Big Tone” Perez (8th)Side by Side RISE: Students of the Year – Damian Della Bella (6th), Seth Charles (7th), Amy Quinteros (8th)
Most Improved – Dalton Green (6th), Kayla Favor (7th), Penelope Fisher (8th)
High School YDP (Norwalk High and Brien McMahon)
Outstanding students were recognized across all grades:
Norwalk High: Students of the Year – Enijah Fleming (9th), Ashley & Jasmine Diaz (10th), Arianna Nembhard (11th), Cindy Concha (12th)
Most Improved – Sofia Alcabin (9th), Matthew Wynter Diaz (10th), Alexis Delgado (11th), Aniyia Prince (12th)Brien McMahon: Students of the Year – Felicia Denis (9th), King Dixon (10th), Pearly Innocent (11th), Miguel Potter (12th)
Most Improved – Bernard Payant (9th), Pearly Innocent (10th), Fahendra Aurelus (11th), Anthony Deleon (12th)
Carver Jr. YDP
Students of the Year: Tatyanna Simeon (6th), Jocabeth Medina Alegre (7th), John Akbar (8th)
Most Improved: Elijah Yngcong (6th), Dior Manning (7th), Hernezto Jean (8th)
Graduates of Note
High School Graduates: Students from Norwalk High and Brien McMahon proudly walked across the Carver Center gym floor prepared for their college journeys and future careers.
College Graduates: Gaelle Louis Charles, Celina Hunter, Nicea Nerette, Mandie Romeus – our college scholarship recipients of years past – returned to share in the celebration and serve as role models for current Carver youth.
THANKS TO OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM LEADERS
Ms. Martini - Manager of School Based Programs
Ms. Massucco - Director of School Based Elementary Programs
Mr. Ramsubhag - Carver Center Education Manager
Ms. Kingwood - Assistant Program Manager Carver Jr. YDP
Ms. Baskin - Program Coordinator Norwalk High
Ms. Vellucci - Program Coordinator Brien McMahon
Ms. R. Mitchell - Future Readiness Coordinator McMahon
Ms. Laborde- Future Readiness Coordinator-Norwalk high
Ms. Wright- Future Readiness Coordinator McMahon
Mr. Gaddy Future Readiness Coordinator Norwalk high
Mr. Vaccarro - Program Coordinator Roton M.S.
Ms. Counts- Program Coordinator Nathan Hale M.S.
Mr. Giandurco - Program Coordinator Ponus Ridge M.S.
Mr. Gilmore- Program Coordinator Side by Side Charter School
Mr. Perry - Program Coordinator West Rocks M.S.
Ms. Biko-Smith - Program Coordinator Kendall Elementary
Ms. Watkins - Program Coordinator- Naramake Elementary
Ms. Preston - Program Coordinator Brookside Elementary
Ms. Huzina - Program Coordinator Tracey Elementary
Ms. Signore - Program Coordinator Jefferson Elementary
Ms. Papszycki-Program Coordinator Silvermine Elementary
Mr. Guzman-Patino- Marvin Elementary
Ms. S. Mitchell- Fox Run Elementary
Deep Gratitude to Our Scholarship Supporters
Our heartfelt thanks to all who make these scholarships possible, including the Athena Scholarship Fund, Joseph Scott III Scholarship Committee, the Ziegler Trust, Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation, the Baudouin Family, the Richard and Barbara Whitcomb Foundation, the Sapienza Scholarship, Serenbetz Family Foundation, and the Grossman Family Foundation.
This event is a declaration of belief in the power of young people. At a time when access to education and opportunity can feel uncertain, Carver’s Testimonial Dinner affirms that our community stands behind every student, ready to invest in their promise.
We congratulate all our scholars and graduates and look forward to seeing the many ways they will shape a better future for us all.
