State Education Department Announces Ninth Class of My Brother’s Keeper Fellows

The State Education Department today inducted the ninth class of New York State My Brother's Keeper (NYSMBK) Fellows during the annual NYSMBK symposium, held at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Over 1,000 guests were in attendance for the event, which featured opening remarks from State Education Department leadership and elected officials, as well as student panels, breakout sessions, and a college fair. Each of the 122 Fellows inducted today will be matched with a mentor and receive a fellowship opportunity.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, "When we invest in boys and young men of color, we invest in the strength, promise, and future of our communities. The My Brother's Keeper Fellows program goes far beyond mentorship-it opens doors, bolsters leadership, and affirms the brilliance and potential of these young men. The ninth class of Fellows is comprised of remarkable individuals who are committed to uplifting their schools, serving their communities, and supporting one another. Today, we celebrate their achievements and the lasting impact they will have on New York State."

Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, "The My Brother's Keeper initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring every New York State student is supported and empowered to succeed. Each of the newly inducted Fellows have already made meaningful contributions in their schools and communities, demonstrating an aptitude for leadership and a deep sense of purpose. Through mentorship, service, and opportunity, the NYSMBK Fellow program will not only help these young men further their potential, but also equip them to become the next generation of changemakers in their communities and across the state."

NYSMBK is a statewide initiative aimed at addressing persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color through community partnerships that help remove barriers and improve outcomes both in and out of the classroom. The NYSMBK Fellows program recognizes rising high school seniors who are leaders in their schools and communities.

Since its inception in 2018, the NYSMBK Fellows program has matched hundreds of boys and young men with mentors from NYSMBK Community Network partners from across the state. These mentors-representing 51 communities and seven tribal nations-provide students with authentic leadership experience in industries such as government, education, and business.

As part of the NYSMBK Fellows program, students are required to develop and execute a service project related to a NYSMBK initiative, such as:

• Ensuring equitable access to high-quality schools and programs;
• Expanding prevention, early warning, and intervention services;
• Responding to structural and institutional racism; or
• Engaging families and communities in a trusted and respectful way.

The 2026 MBK Fellows are:

Albany

• Yehudah Levi, Albany High School
• Jah'Quinn Thompson, Albany High School

Arlington

• Mateo Stokes, Arlington High School
• Zion Wood, Arlington High School

Auburn

• Asahel Barnard, Auburn High School
• Sheldon Homick, Auburn High School

Brentwood

• Marcelus Bradford, Brentwood High School
• Kevin Chery, Brentwood High School
• Waldo Estrella Rodriguez, Brentwood High School
• Arnoldo Romero, Brentwood High School

Buffalo

• Matias Angulo-Diaz, City Honors
• Isaac Galindo Centeno, City Honors
• Brian Perry, Buffalo Culinary Arts
• Zy'Aire Rhodes, Research Lab

Central Islip

• Derek Asare, Central Islip High School
• Julius Dancey, Central Islip High School

Dunkirk

• Carmelo Davis, Dunkirk Senior High School
• Jontae Thomas, Dunkirk Senior High School

East Ramapo

• Kelvin Dowdy-Gibbs, Ramapo High School
• Jean Joanus, Ramapo High School
• Woodney Jean-Marie, Spring Valley High School
• Sebastian Sandoval-Martinez, Spring Valley High School

Ellenville

• Nisean F. Abney, Ellenville Junior/Senior High School
• Sebastian C. Ortiz, Ellenville Junior/Senior High School

Greenburgh

• Christopher Hernandez, Woodlands Middle/High School
• Arnold Treco, Woodlands Middle/High School

Hudson

• Jaylon Nelson, Hudson High School
• Elijah Walker, Hudson High School

Ithaca

• Ozzy Nguyen, Ithaca High School
• Tramonie Obee, Ithaca High School

Kingston

• Barry White, Kingston High School
• Paul Bailey, Kingston High School

LaFayette

• Kingston Edwards, LaFayette Middle/High School
• Gahowa:nen's (Gahowanes) Shenandoah, LaFayette Middle/High School

Lockport

• Sameen Babury, Lockport High School
• Bryce Leonard, Lockport High School

Long Beach

• Kyran Briggs, Long Beach High School
• Zachary Gause, Long Beach High School

Longwood

• Camilo Balsero, Longwood High School
• Gianne Peralta, Longwood High School

Lyons

• Isaiah Alexander, Lyons Middle/High School
• Loirmus Desius, Jr., Lyons Middle/High School

Massena

• Gerald Roundpoint, Massena High School
• Gregg Staves, Massena High School

Middletown

• Isaiah DeJean, Middletown High School
• Tyrell Glover, Middletown High School

Monticello

• Dion Knight, Monticello High School
• Jacob Salmon, Monticello High School

Mount Pleasant Cottage

• Zahmir Hill, Edenwald School
• Jakai Logan, Mount Pleasant Cottage School

Mt. Vernon

• Reijon Brooks, Mt. Vernon High School
• Timothy Jenkins, Mt. Vernon High School

New Rochelle

• James Osei Ampofo II, New Rochelle High School
• Morgan Chisolm, New Rochelle High School
• Karter Henderson, New Rochelle High School
• Kelechi Njoku, New Rochelle High School

Newburgh

• Abraham Cherian, Newburgh Free Academy North Campus
• Emilio Ramos Martinez, Newburgh Free Academy West Campus
• Orane West Jr., Newburgh Free Academy Main Campus
• Jaden Williams, Newburgh Free Academy West Campus

NYC Bronx

• James Akpohoui, Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists
• Victor Garcia, Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists
• Gianni Harris, Bard High School Early College Bronx

NYC Brooklyn

• Dante J.L. Holmes, L.I.F.E Academy High School for Film & Music
• Ethan Ramos, EBC High School for Public Service - Bushwick
• Ariel Segura, Brooklyn Technical High School
• Deshawn Smith, Loen M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences

NYC Manhattan

• Ramses Fondeur, Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics
• Rashad Prince, Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change
• Alfred Suazo, Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change

NYC Queens

• Adam Esteban, Channelview High School for Research
• Tobiloba Olanipekun, Mathematics, Science Research and Technology Magnet High School
• Romao Sinclair, Hillside Arts & Letters Academy
• Da'Voul Weems, Jr., Eagle Academy of Southeast Queens

NYC Staten Island

• SK Ahmed, CSI High School
• Resean Dunn, Eagle Academy Staten Island
• Elijah Greene, McKee High
• Ziare White, Wagner High School

Ossining

• Maxwell Bivens, Ossining High School
• Cullen Lafferty, Ossining High School

Peekskill

• Syncere Chandler, Peekskill High School
• Joshua Silvestre, Peekskill High School

Port Chester-Rye

• Hayden Anti, Port Chester High School
• Owen Dorsainvil, Port Chester High School

Poughkeepsie

• Chance Tangunu, Poughkeepsie High School
• Trace Ward, Poughkeepsie High School

Rochester

• Jamie Anderson Jr., East High School
• Pah Di, School Without Walls High School
• Marlon Hairs, East High School
• Kendric White, School Without Walls High School

Roosevelt

• Ivan A. Lagos, Roosevelt High School
• Brandon A. Reeves, Roosevelt High School

Salmon River

• Carson Burwell, Salmon River High School
• Rarontiiostha Pembleton, Salmon River High School

Schenectady

• Rahshaun Cook, Schenectady High School
• Kurtis Maehrlein, Schenectady High School

Sodus

• Khamani Bain, Sodus High School
• Richardo Irizarry, Sodus High School

Southampton

• Brandon P. Gardner, Southampton High School
• Sean Smith, Southampton High School

Suffern

• Carter Brown, Suffern High School
• Immanuel Catul, Suffern High School

Syracuse

• Ebuela Esube, Henninger High School
• Michael Mitchell, Henninger High School
• Zier Nowell, ITC
• Sliva Shabani, Henniger High School

Troy

• Vulonn Forde, Troy High School
• Darell Murray, Troy High School

Uniondale

• Carlos Bonilla Fuentes, Uniondale High School
• Jordan Lesperance, Uniondale High School

Valley Stream

• Julien Toombs, Valley Stream Central High School
• Giannicarlo Vasquez, Valley Stream Central High School

Westbury

• Oyekolapo Babalola, Westbury High School
• Bezaleel Philogene, Westbury High School

White Plains

• Jerb Brice, White Plains High School
• Mateo Pognon, White Plains High School

Wyandanch

• Juan Cisneros Hernandez, Wyandanch Memorial High School
• Tristen Simmons, Wyandanch Memorial High School

Yonkers

• Oscar David Arias Luna, Charles E. Gorton High School
• Okello K. Allen, Saunders Trades & Technical High School
• Akil A. Kamara Roosevelt High School - Early College Studies
• Donaven Melvin, Lincoln High School