Rebecca Turner Academy Announces 1st Valedictorian And Salutatorian

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A successful inaugural year at Mount Vernon's newest public school will feature its two most impressive students.

From the Mount Vernon City School District.

Following its first year as an alternative high school, Rebecca Turner Academy has the honor of announcing two hardworking individuals as the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2024. Marlene Coronado, the valedictorian, and Blessin Allen, the salutatorian, have demonstrated perseverance and resilience in achieving academic excellence.

In their first year at the Rebecca Turner Academy, they have managed to successfully navigate and adapt to a new school while helping to cultivate a safe, positive and welcoming school environment. Throughout their time at RTA, Coronado and Allen have been active members of their school community by serving as role models and helping to spread the No Place for Hate initiative through their artwork and commitment to helping others.

Coronado and Allen have been honor roll students their entire high school career and are dedicated to achieving their goals.

"Marlene and Blessin exemplify how the Rebecca Turner Academy is where resilient, fearless and tenacious students soar and reach their fullest potential," said RTA Principal Troy Newbey. "These two scholars are destined for greatness! Despite their challenges they have been resilient and committed to their academics. Overcoming obstacles that have turned into beacons of light and success. We look forward to the amazing things Marlene and Blessin will continue to embark on."

Coronado was announced as valedictorian with a GPA of over 90 percent. She prides herself in being a high achiever and the hard work she took to reach this goal, including doing all her work exceptionally, coming in on time and working to get extra credit whenever possible.

"This has a lot of value to my family, so what it means to me is finishing school with high grades, with the help of my family and those that supported me," said Coronado.

Her favorite classes that helped her stay focused in school were the arts, history and English.

Those classes and teachers motivated her to continue her success in school, despite any challenges Coronado had. She says her teachers were committed and understanding, and they always pushed her to do better.

Coronado has been involved in community service work through her church and has also helped elderly people in the community.

She will be attending the Academy of Skin and Beauty in White Plains and intends to have a career as an esthetician. Coronado has always been passionate for beauty and the arts. She has drawn, painted and done photography throughout her life. As Coronado grew up, she started pursuing a beauty career. She started by doing beautician work for parties. These experiences solidified Coronado's passion, so she decided to go to trade school with the support of her family to become an esthetician.

When she was younger, her uncle helped her with her art, and she credits him for starting her on this career path. Coronado loves art because she can create anything she wants and express herself that way.

She started her high school career at Denzel Washington School of the Arts, but she began struggling physically and mentally after an illness. Coronado missed over a year of school, and her struggles continued mentally as well. She decided to make a change, and when RTA was founded, she began her education again.

"Some people might say this school is just for those that are underachieving or rebellious, but we’re just kids that deal with a lot," Coronado said. "This school just understands us. Some people don’t understand that."

Allen was announced as salutatorian with a GPA of over 87 percent and aspires to become an educator. She is the recipient of the Admissions Counselor VIP Scholarship for $2,000, Franciscan Scholarship at Siena for $22,500, and the St. Francis Scholarship for $500. As a result of Allen's scholarships, she will attend Siena College at a greatly reduced cost and study English to become a teacher.

When asked what motivated her to become a teacher, Allen stated that, "I just want to help kids."

She has a passion for art and paints on pants and shoes to create designs. Allen also draws and has considered selling her drawings in the future.

She attributes her success to the hard work that she put in throughout her education. Allen also says that RTA teachers and staff have supported her throughout the way to get to where she is.

Her message to other students is, "Don’t let anything get in the way of achieving your goals."