DWSA students perform West Side Story: A Musical Revue

The Denzel Washington School of the Arts celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2026 on Wednesday, sending a talented group of young artists and scholars into the next act of their lives with cheers, music and heartfelt gratitude. The commencement ceremony was as much a performance as it was a celebration, blending artistic expression with academic achievement in a way that has become the hallmark of the Mount Vernon school. Family members, friends, faculty and community leaders filled the auditorium, cheering each graduate as they crossed the stage after years of honing not only their artistic talents but also their voices, confidence and resilience.

For Abigail Stephens, graduating as valedictorian of the Denzel Washington School of the Arts is the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and support from the people who helped shape her journey. Her resilience helped guide her through the challenges of high school and toward an extraordinary future. This fall, she will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to major in biology on a pre-med track with the goal of becoming a physician.

When Sydney Whitaker takes the stage as salutatorian of the Denzel Washington School of the Arts, she will do so as a student whose six-year journey helped shape her into a leader, creative thinker and aspiring marketing professional. Sydney has spent nearly her entire life in the Mount Vernon City School District, attending Traphagen Elementary School before enrolling at DWSA in sixth grade. Growing up with two younger sisters and surrounded by family, she developed close relationships that helped shape her outlook.

The Denzel Washington School of the Arts proudly celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during its Senior Awards Convocation on June 12. Students were recognized for academic achievement, leadership, service, artistic excellence, athletic participation, scholarship attainment and perseverance.

Denzel Washington School for the Arts seniors turned their college commitments into a full-fledged performance during a festive College Decision Day celebration, where dozens of members of the Class of 2026 announced where they will head this fall. Cheers erupted in the auditorium as each senior was introduced one by one as their baby photos flashed across a large screen, followed by a second slide revealing their chosen college.  

At just 4 years old, Sydney Whitaker began her journey in the Mount Vernon City School District — from Traphagen Elementary School to Denzel Washington School of the Arts, where she now stands as a poised and accomplished senior.

At the Denzel Washington School of the Arts, senior dance major Madisyn Harvey has grown up in more ways than one since her pre-K days in the Mount Vernon City School District.

Long before Madison Govia ever stepped into a dance studio, rhythm shaped by the Caribbean sounds of Saint Kitts and Nevis filled her home. A senior at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts, Madison traces her love of music and movement back to her earliest memories.