PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDUCATION BRIEFS: Step Squad Honors

The Dem Raider Boyz Step Squad from Eleanor Roosevelt High School recently won its fourth national title at the National High School Stepping Championship in Newark, N.J.
The squad also won the same title in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Dem Raider Boyz also holds the record for the team with the most national titles at this competition.
Culinary Scholarships
Quest Hollis (Oxon Hill HS), Rebecca Ayers (Bowie HS), Jamyia Christopher (Charles H. Flowers HS) and Nadia Montague (Bowie HS) all earning more than $300,000 in combined scholarship awards through the Culinary Arts Professions program.
Quest and Rebecca respectively received scholarships of $119,093 and $110,360 to attend the Culinary Institute of America and Paul Smith College, both of which are located in New York. Another C-CAP student, Oluwaseun Osilesi from Charles H. Flowers High School, was awarded a full-time job at DBGB Kitchen & Bar in D.C.
Teacher of the Year
Domenic Mallardi, a teacher at Charles H. Flowers High School, has been named Maryland ProStart Culinary Arts’ Teacher of the Year.
The award is given to the high school culinary arts teacher who empowers and inspires their students to pursue a career in the hospitality industry, while them to a high academic standard.
The ProStart program provides high school students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunity to begin their journey towards careers as restaurant and food-service leaders. Mallardi was recognized last month at the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s Stars Industry Awards gala.
Post-Graduation Apprenticeships
Three Crossland High School seniors from the school’s Electrical Program have earned apprenticeships following their recent graduations.
Pedro Umanzor Garcia and Rene Velasco will begin their apprenticeships with Independent Electrical Contractors, while Krsna Griffiths will be working for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
IEC Apprentice Training programs combine on-the-job learning and formal related technical instruction to prepare young electricians for this high-demand industry.
The IBEW represents approximately 750,000 active members and retirees who work in a variety of fields including utilities, construction, and manufacturing.
Film Festival Winners
More than 300 students and teachers recently gathered at The American Film Institute in Silver Spring to take part in PGCPS’ sixth annual Film Festival.
“The film festival showcases videos produced by our students and gives them an opportunity to see their work much like it would be in the real world,” said Barbara Liedahl, PGCPS media arts instructional specialist. “The festival also allows our students to receive feedback from industry professionals and their peers, which is always a huge part of the learning process for our students.”
This year’s teacher award recipients included:
Best Cast: Unplugged – Oxon Hill High School – Morgan Venzant
Best Special Effects: Standardized – James H. Harrison Elementary School – Jeremy Powell
Best Sound Design: Spirit of the Mask – Northwestern High School – Andre’ Lee
Best Script/Story: Blind Date – Bowie High School – Mark Arcusa
Best Cinematography (Tie): Unplugged – Oxon Hill High School
Morgan Venzant
Best Cinematography (Tie): A Mother’s Love – Bowie High School – Mark Arcusa
Best Animation: I’m Late Hyattsville Middle School – Carlo Natividad
Best Film – Elementary School: Standardized – James H. Harrison Elementary School – Jeremy Powell
Best Film – Middle School: Today Doesn’t Define Tomorrow – Thomas G. Pullen Arts Academy – Jonathan Spinks
Best Film – High School: Unplugged – Oxon Hill High School – Morgan Venzant