San Miguel Academy Students Bring Home Multiple Medals from Mohawk Meltdown Rowing Competition

San Miguel Academy students traveled to Niskayuna, NY, to compete in the Mohawk Meltdown, an annual indoor rowing competition sponsored by Niskayuna Rowing. Now in its 11th year, the event brings together young rowers from across the region for a day of spirited competition.

San Miguel Academy had an outstanding showing, bringing 50 student-athletes to the event and earning multiple podium finishes. Medal winners included:

• Lizbeth Morales – 1st place, 6th grade girls

• Liam Cabrera – 1st place, 6th grade boys

• Lionel Mancilla – 1st place, 7th grade boys

• Liam Gunera – 2nd place, 6th grade boys

• Ayden Castelan – 2nd place, 7th grade boys

• Adrian Gonzalez – 2nd place, 8th grade boys

• Joshua Martinez – 3rd place, 6th grade boys

• Maritza Ramos – 3rd place, 7th grade girls

Fourth-place finishers included Sinu Madhaven (6th grade boys) and Alexander Cruz (8th grade boys).

San Miguel Academy’s rowing program expands educational and athletic opportunities for student-athletes while building discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. The program has played a significant role in helping graduates earn placements at top-tier high schools and colleges. Today, it stands as one of the largest middle school rowing programs in the nation and among the largest minority middle school rowing programs in the country.

Covenant Preparatory School 8th Grader Goes to China

Recently, Covenant Prep 8th grader Michael Slappy was selected to be one of just four youth ambassadors from Hartford to join a powerful educational program taking place in Beijing, China. The school could not be more proud of Michael for being chosen and for representing the city of Hartford all the way across the world. Shared below are is what Michael had to say about the life-changing experience.

“I’m forever grateful that I was given the opportunity to visit China! Through the influence of Ms. Cannavo and Ms. Clarissa, I was able to apply to the EmpowerED Alternatives Winter-Friendship camp in China. After obtaining our visas, we began Saturday classes where the Student Ambassadors would learn about Chinese culture and language. When the day came to board the plane, we were all excited.”

“First we traveled to London and explored, visiting places like the Big Ben tower. Secondly, we arrived in China for our days of sightseeing and we visited the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Great Wall. The sights left us in awe, and we were welcomed by the locals. After days of adventure, the friendship camp began. The students were kind and humorous and made the lessons engaging and worthwhile.”

“The students were kind and humorous and made the lessons engaging and worthwhile. The counselors quickly became the Ambassadors best friends with their unique personalities. My favorite part of the trip was the karaoke on the day before the closing ceremony. Finally, the trip came to an end in Japan after visiting the skytree. I never thought Covenant would take me abroad, but they did and it was the time of my life!”

Meet the Keynote Speaker for the NMC National Conference: Sequoia Austin

We are proud to announce that Sequoia Austin will be our Keynote Speaker at the national conference this July in St. Louis! Sequoia Austin is an educational consultant and former school leader based in the Washington, DC area. With experience as a teacher, Director of Student Culture, and Assistant Principal, she has led instructional and cultural shifts in diverse school communities focused on equity, restorative practices, and sustainable leadership systems.

Sequoia earned her undergraduate degree in Neurobiology & Physiology and a Master’s in Education from the University of Maryland. Throughout her leadership roles, she supported schools in clarifying high-priority goals, strengthening implementation structures, and coaching educators toward more focused and aligned practice.

Today, Sequoia partners with school and district leaders to reduce initiative overload and bring clarity to complex work. Her approach bridges mindset, systems thinking, and practical implementation—helping leaders move from urgency-driven decision-making to intentional, sustainable progress.

A former Division I walk-on basketball player, she brings the discipline and resilience of high-performance environments into educational leadership spaces. Her speeches and sessions are known for their clarity, honesty, and actionable insight, equipping leaders with both perspective and next steps.

We hope you will join us in St. Louis to be inspired by her experience, energized by her spirit, and empowered to put into practice what you learn from the conference.