Among the many students that roam the halls at American Senior High School are seniors and Silver Knight nominees for 2017 Chinenye Ibemera, Aniah Watts and Sydney Vallejo. Despite their age, their knowledge and dreams extend far beyond the average high school teen.
Ibemera was born in Antigua and Barbuda and came to the United States in the fourth grade. Whatever setbacks emigrating to a new country may cause, Ibemera’s academic history shows no gaps, and it seems she’s been on a endless wave of passionate pursuit.
With a love for art, the same category for which she was nominated, Ibemera participated in community projects like Sunday School art classes at Hour of Resurrection Ministries. She dabbles in all mediums of art, though her portfolio shows a preference for watercolor. As a self-taught artist who first took up a brush one middle school summer long ago, Ibemera has continued to improve on her craft and finding ways to combine her love of art with the know-how she’s gained in her pre-medical classes.
“I want to own my own hospital one day and paint murals on the walls,” said Ibemera. “I want to be a person who sends positive messages. Health is not just about the body, it’s about the soul.”
Ibemera also works with the pre-school students on campus in the Little Patriots program, teaching them arts and crafts. In her free time, Ibemera put together a handful of artworks that feature inspiring and encouraging messages such as “bloom where you are planted,” and she hands those out to the homeless, along with a meal. She finds the time to partake in these projects despite her academic schedule and her participation in National Honors Society (NHS), National English Honor Society (NEHS), Mu Alpha Theta, Future Educators of America, art club, SECME, National Art Honor Society, and the Pre-Med Honor Society.
Aniah Watts’ interests range from medicine to financial literacy, and many things in-between. As a general scholarship nominee for Silver Knights, her major service project was volunteering at Miami Dade Community Action and Human Services Department, where she helps people who receive eviction notices. She also spearheaded a project called Clothing Closet, a donation site for clothing for the homeless, where she donated a lot of her own clothes.
During Thanksgiving, Watts prepares food for the homeless and as a peace ambassador at her school, she leads talks for underclassmen on topics like gun violence, conflict and resolution, and college readiness.
Apart from participating in NHS, National English Honor Society, Pre-Med Honor Society, and Beta Tau Zeta Chapter, Watts works with L.E.A.R.N. Inc. to help those in urban environments learn financial literacy. She hopes to one day open a clinic and offer free or reduced medical services for those in the community struggling with medical debt.
Sydney Vallejo, like her peers, is a highly motivated and talented student who was a nominee for Silver Knight’s athletic category. A skilled athlete, she participates in volleyball, soccer, flag football and basketball. She is the captain for volleyball and flag football teams. As part of her volunteer projects Vallejo leads younger children at her church in sports.
“This is more than an activity every Sunday,” said Vallejo. “This is investing in their lives. Some of these kids are carrying tough burdens like parents divorcing.”
Vallejo also goes on extended mission trips in various countries around the world like Brazil, and Paraguay. She says seeing the children who can’t even afford shoes and yet they’re soccer stars in their neighborhoods has motivated her to become a better athlete. She hopes to one day open an orphanage in Africa with sports programs. She plans on studying nursing or possibly specializing in sports medicine.
“Athletics has opened up life in a new lens for me,” said Vallejo. “It’s changed me.”