SMYRNA — Future educators from Smyrna High School were named national champions at the Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando, Florida.

From Delaware, 18 individuals or teams were recognized with Top 10 honors. Smyrna High had 11 such awards and was crowned the 2023 national champion.

In addition to Smyrna, the state was represented by students from Appoquinimink High, Concord High, Cape Henlopen High, Sussex Central High, Laurel High, Howard High School of Technology, McKean High, Seaford High and Delaware Technical Community College.

Seaford’s Taylor Jenkins was elected the national vice president of service, the third student from Delaware to be chosen as a national officer in Educators Rising.

Students awarded in the JV Division were:

• Brianna Kalb, Smyrna — Exploring Student Support Services, fourth place.
• Malika Opelogo, Concord — Creative Lecture (TED Talk), fourth place.
• Alexandra Passero, Smyrna — Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers, first place.
• Mekenzie Square-Ward, Smyrna — Job Interview, first place.

Students awarded in the Varsity Division were:

• Faith Givens, Caroline Ricketts and Jessica Marie Price, Laurel — Ethical Dilemma, eighth place.
• Madison Williams, Elizabeth Nix and Madison Retzlaff, Smyrna — Inside Our Schools, sixth place.
• Leah Bonsignore, Smyrna — Public Speaking, sixth place.
• Abigail Long, Smyrna — Impromptu Speaking, sixth place.
• Marlayna Pennington, Smyrna — Job Interview, fifth place.
• Olivia Marzullo, Sussex Central — Job Interview, fourth place.
• Zachary Naar, Cape Henlopen — Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers, fourth place.
• Taylor Colman, Smyrna — Educators Rising Moment, third place.
• Allexi Steele, Smyrna — Creative Lecture (TED Talk), third place.
• Emma Kate Reist, Cape Henlopen — Exploring Student Support Service Careers, third place.
• Hailey Ennis, Smyrna — Exploring Student Support Service Careers, second place.
• Madison Retzlaff, Smyrna — Exploring Education Administration Careers, second place.
• Gala Meseguer-Molina, Laurel — Children’s Literature-Spanish, first place.

Students awarded in the Collegiate Division were: 

• Victoria Henry and Celina Lombardi, DelTech — Children’s Literature, first place.

To learn more, visit delawareedrising.org or contact Michael Hill-Shaner at michael.hill-shaner@doe.k12.de.us.