Micah Shiflett of Brooklyn Park Elementary School, Aryana Bowles of Walter S. Mills-Parole Elementary School, Andre Turnage, Jr. of Wiley H. Bates Middle School, Javien Johnson of Northeast High School are the 2025 recipients of the annual Mo Gaba Positivity and Perseverance Awards. The video announcement of the winners was made today on the school system’s social media sites in celebration of Mo Gaba Day throughout Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The video can be found here.
In addition, Isabella Garcia of Belle Grove Elementary School is the 2025 Mo Gaba Legacy Award Winner.
The winners will be formally recognized and receive their award at the Board of Education’s next meeting on February 5, 2025. Their schools will receive a banner and $500 in the winner’s name to be used for a school initiative that promotes kindness and positivity. The monetary award is generously sponsored by the Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Mosilla Kingsley “Mo” Gaba was a student in AACPS whose health challenges never defeated his intellectual brilliance, positive attitude, fun-loving spirit, or his ability to make others smile and marvel at his resilience. In honor of this courageous student who physically left us too soon, the Mo Gaba Power of Positivity and Perseverance Award seeks to uphold Mo’s legacy by recognizing students who embody those characteristics.
Ninety-eight students were nominated by their schools for demonstrating exceptional capabilities to overcome obstacles and showing kindness and a positive attitude to change the lives of others.
2025 Mo Gaba Positivity and Perseverance Nominees
Primary Category
Joseph Rosales Gomez, Ferndale Early Education Center
Tahj Tindall, Marley Elementary School
Liam Ortiz, Monarch Academy Annapolis
Victor Culbreath, Nantucket Elementary School
Makai Johnson, Rippling Woods Elementary School
Matthew Urias-Villatoro, Tyler Heights Elementary School
Intermediate Category
Ava Janeski, AACPS Virtual Academy
Emmely Rivera Reyes, Belle Grove Elementary School
Jace Gonzales, Deale Elementary School
Ariana Orellana Ramirez, Edgewater Elementary School
Hayden Dawes, Four Seasons Elementary School
Brea Weiss, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School
Jaremiyah Williams, Marley Elementary School
Destiny Carr, Mayo Elementary School
Clover Hicks, Oak Hill Elementary School
Amparo Gonzalez-Martinez, Richard Henry Lee Elementary School
Adrian Mireles, Rolling Knolls Elementary School
Micah Morgan, Two Rivers Elementary School
Middle School Category
Ridley Ziemer, Brooklyn Park Middle School
Ralph Steve, Crofton Middle School
Ajay Rajan, Lindale Middle School
Didier Andrade Marcias, MacArthur Middle School
Hina Zaki, MacArthur Middle School
Ashley Belteton Perez, Marley Middle School
Noah Mason, Meade Middle School
Ty Bonin, Northeast Middle School
Chayann Bryant, Old Mill Middle School South
Marvin Wright, Phoenix Academy
Ethan Holdren, Severn River Middle School
High School Category
Maiah Horne, AACPS Virtual Academy
Victoria Marshall, Center of Applied Technology South
Morotobaoluwa “Oba” Akin-Ajayi, Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School
Evan Wright, North County High School
Brandi Constantine, Phoenix Academy
Keylonté Hayes-Collison, Severna Park High School
Riley Russo, South River High School
2025 Mo Gaba Positivity and Perseverance Legacy Nominees
Dian Callahan, AACPS Virtual Academy
Genesis Alvarado Martinez, Brooklyn Park Elementary School
Anastasia Demetriades, Brooklyn Park Middle School
Laela Nenno, Center of Applied Technology South
Faith McCormick, Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School
Audrey Barker, Four Seasons Elementary School
Gaby Mez Estrada, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School
Kamran Sidibe, Jacobsville Elementary School
Grace Kozushko, Lindale Middle School
Claire Pierpoint, Magothy River Middle School
Jaremiyah Williams, Marley Elementary School
Nora Bergner, Mayo Elementary School
Brenny Fortiz Muñoz, Meade Middle School
Matthew Martel, North County High School
Kenadie Pickett, Northeast Middle School
Edson Firmino Neto, Oak Hill Elementary School
Sadie Balcer, Severn River Middle School
Joshua Neumann, Severna Park Middle School
Mia McGlone, South River High School
Ashley Morales-Cruz, Tyler Heights Elementary School
Jack Morgan, Waugh Chapel Elementary School
Coleman Skinner, Wiley H. Bates Middle School
Anthony Flores-Cortes, Woodside Elementary School