City Council Legislative Session - Regular Meeting

Hampton City Council ceremonial session. Madam Clerk, you call the roll, please.

Councilman Bowman. Present. Vice Mayor Brown.

Here.

Councilwoman Campbell. Present. Councilwoman Fairby. Present. Councilwoman Harper. Present. Councilwoman Mugler. Present. Mayor Gray.

President and this evening we have some very special presentations for those in the audience as well as those watching at home and so with that I'm going to turn it over to Brian Marchese of marketing Department outreach coordinator Brian.

thank you mayor gray vice mayor brown members of council city manager bunting and city attorney sidner and welcome to all of our honored guests here joining us tonight i'd also like to recognize from our school board here we have dr richard mason the chair of the school board is here and joe kilgore is here as well from the school board AND FROM HAMPTON CITY SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE DR. RAYMOND HAINES, SUPERINTENDENT. AND MS. SHEMIKA POLLARD IS HERE, THE CHIEF OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. So we also have a lot of principals and academy chairs and stuff like that as well, and I'll talk about them a little bit later as we get through the schools, but they're all in attendance as well tonight. The May Spotlights are some of my personal favorites of the year, and I know you guys as well. Two weeks ago, we celebrated 69 students who earned their associate's degree before earning their high school diplomas. Tonight, we turn the spotlight on another group of extraordinary young people, Hampton City Schools, Class of 2026, Valedictorians and Salutatorians. Every one of these students has a story, and what strikes me each year is how different those stories are from year to year. Different paths, different passions, different people who lifted them up along the way, but they all share one thing. They showed up, they did the work, and they distinguished themselves at the very top of their class. Before we get started, a word to the families in the room. These students will be the first to tell you, and we have some videos where they do tell you, that they didn't get here alone. You were in the stands, you were in the carpool line, around the kitchen table at midnight. The pride that you feel tonight is well earned, so you deserve the credit as well. so a little bit of order for how this is going to work so the students did some interviews with the tv station a few weeks ago and they're longer interviews and tonight we're going to play some short clips from those interviews we're going to move through the schools in alphabetical order and i'll pause between each school so mayor gray and the council members can come forward and give you guys some plaques and some photos parents you're welcome to come up and take pictures as well And before I roll the first clip, I want to let you know that, and give a quick shout out to Hampton City Schools TV team who interviewed each of these students and produced the videos you're about to see. Wu-Bei Gabre, Matt Buckwalter, Stephen Fryer, Aniyah Neal, Alyssa Alpert, their work made this all come to life. And so we appreciate them as well. So with that, I'd like to start with Bethel High School. So leading Bethel High School, you have Dr. Tanya Howard, the Executive Principal. And the Academy Principals for Bethel High School are Shermaine Pace-Poole, Travis Oliver, Mr. Patrick McRae, and Ms. Catrice Pace-Pirris. Bethel is represented by two students who each bring a genuine sense of purpose to everything they do. First is their Bethel's Valedictorian, Drury Patel, and their Salutatorian, Ava Tanner. And so with that, I'm going to play the video clip of the two of them. Let me click it over here.

Hey, I'm Drewie Patel. I'm valedictorian of Bethel High School, class of 2021. I'm proud to be an HDS graduate because it gives me so many opportunities such as the government or the science and technology, which I've made so many friends that know who I am. I've made professors that have big PhDs, people I would have never met without them. I've met teachers that have actually confided in me and helped me learn how to believe in myself. They're always telling me, you have to be yourself. You can't be someone else. They are already taken.

Some people you'd like to thank or acknowledge along this journey of yours so far.

One person, the main person I would like to thank is my mom. I want her to know that she's the reason why I'm here today. She always thinks that she gives her effort, and I never acknowledge it. I see her putting the effort. She has come to every single game, every single practice she'll be there, every single outside of school. She has supported me. She has enrolled me into softball. I never knew what softball was before she brought it up.

Really? Oh, wow.

even though she might not know everything she might not be as fluent in english she'll find a way to make my life better i told someone this earlier i said if my mom wasn't here with me i wouldn't be the person i am today i wouldn't be the person that is sitting here telling everybody about my story my dad also he's a wise man yeah he's the type of person that he won't show emotion But he'll tell you everything in one word. He'll tell you everything with his eyes. He'll tell you everything by his face. Me and my dad have the longest talks, the longest chats when we're alone. And he's always telling me things. And now he's become less, I guess, stricter. But that's because he's like, you'll learn along the way. You have to make mistakes to learn things. or to better yourself, to have growth. And I've never, ever seen my dad cry, but I know once he watches this, he will. Other people I would thank, I would thank my siblings. Without them, without my sister's random bickering and random, you know, please give me my stuff back or barging into my room, I wouldn't have that type of person to, like, confide in. She's like my, I guess, emotional support. And I cry to her. I tell her everything. My brother, on the other hand, he likes sports. I'm a big sports person, and I love playing around with him. I love, you know, telling him things. We watch TV sometimes. We both love Legos. So I would say that my family overall is the best thing that's happened to me.

Hello, my name is Ava Taylor. I'm the 2026 Salutatorian at Bethel High School. Youth advocacy is a really strong part of what I do and why I do it. I feel that a lot of youth aren't seen or represented in a lot of communities, not just not saying it's specifically Hampton. However, I just do think that a lot of youth need to have their voice heard, and it's really important to not shine a light on just the high achievers. It's really important to get all perspectives and all voices in the room because that's how we're able to make our community better. And I grew up in a household where if you're not good at athletics, you have to be good at academics. And me with my poor hand-eye coordination, it was very blatantly clear which one I had to choose. So yeah, academics has always been a really, really, really, really, really big part. And I've always found learning fun. My father says you never lose. You either win or you learn. So every aspect of my life has been a learning experience that I can build off of.

Some people you would like to acknowledge or think along this journey of yours?

Oh my gosh, there's so many. I did not get here alone, and I cannot stress that enough. So some special shout-outs would be my law teacher, Ms. Pate, my counselor, Ms. Dumas, obviously my family, everybody in my family. So my dad, Mimi, Bumpa, Auntie, Uncle D., Kayla, Perry, Gavin, all of you all. Miss Jones, my freshman teacher. I just have so many people to thank. There's so many, it takes a village and I did not get here alone at all.

Please welcome Ian having Drury and Ava come forward please.

Thank you.

Next, we're going to move on to Hampton High School, Executive Principal Hanif Medard, and Academy Principals Alexander Snyder, Jarell Griffin, Travis Riddick, and Ronnie Radcliffe. Hampton High School has two students whose drive is only matched by the gratitude they have for the people that helped them get here. Hampton's valedictorian is Angela Chen, and Hampton's salutatorian is Angelina Christie.

I am the valedictorian of Hampton High School for the class of 2026 The formal announcement for valedictorian was essentially Mr. Majid, all the academy principals, they had us, like, in the room with my parents. But, like, we see the rank on power school, so it wasn't really a surprise. But it kind of showed me that, you know, graduation is really coming close, and, you know, I'm kind of, this is what I kind of work towards and what I've achieved, you know, this past four years.

Some people you would like to thank and acknowledge along this journey of yours so far.

Um, well, there's a lot of people, but, um, definitely my, you know, my family members, my sisters, my friends, um, my parents are also immigrants. So understanding, you know, how hard they've worked for me and how much they sacrificed for me is definitely something I really, you know, hold a lot too. And then my sister, because she, you know, we're first gen, so she had to navigate all this alone. And she's someone who I really look up to and kind of look for advice from.

Hi, I'm Angelina Christie. I am the salutatorian at Hampton High School, class of 2026. I am proud to be a Hampton City Schools graduate because, well, the opportunities that Hampton as a whole gave me, especially in the IB Academy here, I feel like the IB Academy that Hampton provides, it really prepares me for the demands of college. With being just so stressed and overwhelmed, I feel like I'm kind of used to it now. I've gotten used to it, so I'm not gonna really be stressing a lot in college. And that's something I'm really thankful for, because like I said, when I first got into IB, it was a lot. It was hard trying to even manage my schedule. I had to really write down everything I'm going to be doing, because it's just hard. Everything's overlapping. I have to fit time for schoolwork, and then stuff outside of it, and not stressing. So I'm really thankful for that because it really helped me build who I am today and it's going to prepare me for my secondary education in college. My band director is definitely somebody I would thank because I feel like him, like when I got here freshman year, I was really shy and timid. I didn't really know how to stand up for myself. So basically, I feel like he kind of toughened me up a little bit and made me get out of my comfort zone just a little bit, even if it's not a lot. It was just a little bit. And we still crack jokes to this day. He's like, oh, you're so mean. I'm like, well, this is what you did to me. You produced this. And I feel like it really helped me be a little bit more confident. especially through music. I feel like music opened a lot of doors for at least personal growth for me to like get out my shell. So I think it was really good for him to do that for me. And I really thank Mr. Bell so much. He's a great guy and he's also retiring this year. So I'm going to miss him, but we're going to be going out together because we're both leaving. So it's something I really would think.

Please welcome me having Angela and Angelina come forward.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

And next we have Kecoughtan High School with the executive. Executive principal Dwayne Lucas and Academy principals Sharon Graham, Kimberly Riggs Poole, Vincent Bryant and Lou Radford. Kecoughtan High School has a special distinction tonight of not one but two valedictorians who finished with the exact same GPA and their salutatorian has one of the best underdogs you'll hear this evening. And with that, here's Kecoughtan. Oh, sorry, I should probably tell you who they are. Kecoughtan's co-validatorians are Lam Lee and Weiyun Quash. And their salutatorian is Tony Dinh.

Hello, my name is Lam Lee. I'm the valedictorian of Kecoughtan High School for the class of 2026. From the beginning, I've always kept really good grades. And then my uncle, he was the valedictorian for Hampton High School in the class of 2003. And so he has always been my biggest inspiration and has always motivated me, been really influential in my life. And so I wanted to be like him. And then that's why I worked really hard. And then eventually... During my sophomore year of high school, I was ranked one for the first time. And so after that, I just tried my best to maintain it and then I got it. Of course, I want to thank my track coaches, Coach Deon, Coach Maya, Coach Will, Coach Nye, Coach Ro, all my coaches. Because they've really pushed me to become valedictorian. And they gave me a home on the track team. And I also want to thank my mom, my dad, my uncle, my grandparents, my friends, my teachers, and so many more.

Hi, I'm Moian Quach, co-valedictorian of Kecoughtan High School for the class of 2026.

So when you were officially told you were the valedictorian at Kecoughtan, I know you've been known for a while, but what were your initial thoughts?

I think it was kind of funny because I knew I was salutatorian. And then my mom was like, oh, we're passing by like a Krispy Kreme. Let's go get donuts for your grades. And I was like, oh, I don't have a transcript. Let me pull up my power school. And I was like, something looks different here. And I was like, oh, that's it was kind of a funny experience, I guess. I think I would thank my parents and my brother for sure for the support that they've been giving me, as well as my counselor, Dr. Sutton, and my sports coaches for really teaching me how to grow as a person.

I'm the class of 2026 salutatorian at Kecoughtan High School.

You were 33, ranked 33rd in your class your freshman year. Yeah. So when it was official that you went from 33 to the salutatorian, what were your initial thoughts?

I was really shocked, to be honest. I remember he just took me out of class, like Dr. Lucas took me out of class. And I thought I was in trouble, to be honest. And I walked in and he was like, congratulations, you're the salutatorian. Because I haven't been keeping up with the class ranks at all. So it was completely a surprise to me. Obviously, I have to acknowledge my parents. You know, they've really just been there for me the whole time. And, you know, I can always feel like they're in my corner, even if they don't know, like they might not know how to do like a calculus problem, but they'll find a way for me to like find help some way. And I'm really glad for that. And then I'd also really like to thank some of the people at the school, the librarian, Ms. Booz. She's been a big help for me. She's always been there for me. And then my counselor, Ms. Thompson. She's so sweet.

If we please have Lam, Weiyong, and Tony come forward, please.

let's go Thank you.

And finally tonight we have Phoebus High School with Executive Principal David Coakley and Academy Principals Lindsey Jackson, Reginald Crawford, and Dr. Lisa Boyd-Enkrimas. Phoebus High School's valedictorian actually holds the highest GPA of all the students in Hampton City Schools this year, valedictorian Caleb Lucas. And Phoebus Salutatorian is Caitlin Chapman. And with that, here's their videos.

Hello, my name is Caleb Lucas, Phoebus High School Valedictorian, class of 2026. I'm proud to be an ACS graduate because it showcases the hard work that I have done on my side, but also the large alumni base that Hemp City Schools has. Hemp City Schools has produced some of the greatest athletes, actors, filmmakers, legal professionals, all over the board. So I'm proud to be an ACS graduate because I get to put my stamp on ACS and say, I did it too. I would like to thank my parents. They've always supported me. They've let me chart my own way. And I do appreciate them for that. They have never said I couldn't do X, Y, and Z. They just supported me as I've done it. I'd like to thank my sister for being a support as well. All my aunts, uncles, cousins, everybody. I'd like to thank my teachers and administrators at Phoebus High School. um for always allowing me to just um anytime I had an idea for something anytime that I wanted to um fix something that I that may needed a slight tweak you know they're always open and willing to accept that and I'm just very thankful to be here today hi my name is Caitlin Chapman and I'm the salutatorian of Phoebus High School in the class of 2026.

I'm proud to be an HCS graduate because of the difference in resources that we have between the other districts nearby. I know that Newport News and Yorktown and Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, they all receive a lot more funding than we do and resources and we've done a lot with what we have. The academies are really an incredible thing and I'm proud that we've worked within that and we represent well.

Some people you would like to acknowledge and thank along this journey of yours so far.

Definitely my parents. They are not the kind to absolutely pressure on you, and I think that really helped because it gave me the authority over how I'm going to do school, and this is how I chose to do it, salutatorian.

Yeah, absolutely.

Also some of my teachers. Ms. Singleton was my freshman English teacher. Mm-hmm. Dr. Snyder, she teaches me geology and oceanography this year, and she taught me research first semester. And then Ms. Savage was my freshman and junior year biology teacher. And I think those three teachers in school have all definitely helped to get me on this environmental science pathway. They're the ones that I asked questions about if they think I would do well. So they were all very encouraging.

So can we have Caleb and Caitlin come forward?

Thank you.

Okay, well to every student that was recognized tonight from Bethel, Hampton, Kecoughtan, and Phoebus, congratulations again. You guys have all really worked hard for this, and Hampton is very, very proud of you. As you head off to your next chapter, know that the city that helped shape you is rooting for you. And when your time is right, we hope that you come back to Hampton and build your lives here. Lead here and inspire the students that are sitting not far from where you're sitting now. Mayor Gray, back to you.

Thank you Brian and again, congratulations to all of our valedictorians and salutatorians and thank you to their parents and teachers and all of the village around them to help make them successful. We have a great school system here and our young people are doing some amazing things and we're very proud of them. So again, congratulations to all of you. And with that, we will conclude our ceremonial session. I'm sorry Brian, we have one more.

Sorry, I forgot to say one thing. The clerk reminded me. So ordinarily, we give out a little bit bigger trophies, if you will, to our vows of sales. Unfortunately, they didn't come in time. And so they have been ordering. We're going to be giving them to you guys and getting them to you guys soon. So just want to let you guys know that.

All right. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. All right. And we are adjourned.