Three Newport County students were among those honored at the Young Leader Awards ceremony at the Rhode Island State House on May 9, 2025.
General Treasurer James A. Diossa hosted the event, recognizing outstanding high school juniors’ academic success, community involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit.
The local winners include Kira Pearson from Rogers High School in Newport, Lila Christy from Middletown High School, and Norah Winslow from Tiverton High School.
“The Young Leader Awards are a time for us to celebrate these rising seniors for their exemplary academic achievements,” said Treasurer Diossa. “These students are the future of Rhode Island, and I’m excited to see how they will continue to shape our state in the years to come.”
The awards celebrate rising seniors who excel in math, economics, finance, and business courses, while also showing strong leadership and making a real difference in their communities.
Pearson, Christy, and Winslow are among 50 students from across Rhode Island recognized for their impressive academic and extracurricular achievements.
- Carmen Ayala Ayala, Central Falls High School
- Brendaliz Berberena, Tolman High School
- Emmanuel Betancur, Cranston High School West
- Lila Boutin, School One
- Tristan Boyns, Bishop Hendricken High School
- Luke Brock, South Kingstown High School
- Davian Cabral, Saint Raphael Academy
- Luisa Cabrera, Blackstone Academy Charter School
- Anderson Charest, Mt. Hope High School
- Lila Christy, Middletown High School
- Liam Cromie, Moses Brown School
- Wynston Domenico, Lincoln High School
- Logan Edge, North Kingstown High School
- Samara Gali, Barrington High School
- Luke Gallo, West Warwick High School
- Denisse A. Gomez Cruz, Saint Patrick Academy
- Kamila Gonzalez, Block Island School
- Sedona Jackson, Blackstone Valley Prep High School
- Brian Kelly, Scituate High School
- Macie Kennelly, Coventry High School
- Pangzong Kue, Cranston High School East
- Giabella Lamoureux, Cumberland High School
- Bijou Leger, Barrington Christian Academy
- Antonio Jayden Lontoc, St. George’s School
- Sara Madeline Maggio, East Greenwich High School
- Madison Mandeville, Woonsocket High School
- Makayla Marinelli, The Prout School
- Carson Mertz, Mount Saint Charles Academy
- Sarais Miller, North Smithfield High School
- Hope Elizabeth Moran, East Providence High School
- Jacob Nan, Pilgrim High School
- Ian Oliver, Burrillville High School
- Jenna Papa, Ponaganset High School
- Miliany Parker, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts, Providence RI
- Tate Payne, Toll Gate High School
- Kira Pearson, Rogers High School
- Evan Perez, The Met School
- Lillian Annabella Roberts, Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts
- Owen Rodrigues, Beacon Charter High School for the Arts
- Rihanna Ruiz Perez, Times 2 Academy
- Linda Samayoa Campos, Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School
- Sinith Sang, Providence Career and Technical Academy
- Jiannette Seda Ajala, Charles E. Shea High School
- Averi Senecal, North Providence High School
- Audrey Slaughter-Biello, Smithfield High School
- Alexander Subirana, Johnston Senior High School
- Lidia Taber, Chariho High School
- Norah Winslow, Tiverton High School
- Kaylyn Woods, William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School
The event took place in the House Chamber, bringing together top students from public, private, and charter schools throughout the state.