“Purpose that Prevails” – Abundant Life Academy Celebrates 2023 Graduating Class

Abundant Life Academy’s Senior High School Graduation Ceremony took place on June 19^th in Nutley, NJ. This year’s theme was “Purpose that Prevails” from Psalm 33:11: “The Counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”

The ALA school community celebrated the achievements and impact of the Class of 2023. Covid hit during their freshman year, but this class hit back; they stayed connected and involved. Many of the graduates attended Abundant Life Academy since preschool and have been a part of the school culture. In fact, the graduates recalled how they were able to fundraise for a new playground for younger students. That playground was installed right before they graduated. The seniors led the Girls Volleyball and Boys and Girls Track and Field Teams to Conference/Regional Championships. The ALA Boys Soccer and Basketball teams finished their regular seasons in first place in the conference. Five seniors will compete in athletics in college. (article continues after photo)

Over the last two school years, the Class of 2023 helped resurrect “Passion Play” theatrical performances—a long-standing tradition for the ALWC community. The seniors were also an instrumental part of the new “Keeping It Real” annual high school conference and many of them of them were on the high school worship team, band, or audio/visual team. This class also epitomized the diversity of Abundant Life Academy—50 percent of the seniors had a parent or grandparent who was not born in the continental United States, with families immigrating from Brazil, Italy, Ghana, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

Claudia Lee was the Class of 2023 Valedictorian and Elana Cruz was the salutatorian. Many students in the class graduated with college credits as part of ALA’s dual enrollment program. Students in the class were offered millions of dollars in scholarships collectively before they decided to attend the following colleges below.

Abundant Life Academy’s Class of 2023 includes:

Francis Addo-Yobo – Univ. of Central Florida
Mackenzie Almestica – Centenary University
Jethro Amoah – Kean University
Tyler Bonneau – Cairn University
Sebastian Cabral – Seton Hall University
Jasier Carter – New Jersey City University
Daniel Claudio  – NJIT
Elana Cruz  – Fashion Institute
Anthony Duro – Seton Hall University
Samuel Ferrer – Liberty University
Nina Flores – Union County College
Leonardo Gomez – Montclair State University
Alena Hernandez – Essex County College
Madison Jenkins – Kean University
Isabella Kuebler – Messiah University
Claudia Lee – Rutgers University
Richard Lombana – Montclair State University
Mariana Pereira – Montclair State University
Camryn Porter – Bergen County College
Joaquin Quezada – Montclair State University
Paul Ranne – Seton Hall University
Christian Reitor – Hudson County College
Scarina Saint Albert – Kean University
Jacob Santiago – Kean University
Kathleen Sonco – Army Reserve/Kean Univ.
Anthony Testa – University of Valley Forge
Mia Twiggs – Kean University
Mickel Valere – Fairleigh Dickinson University
Eduardo Vega – Hudson County College
Solysis Velazquez – Seton Hall University
Christian Villar – NJIT
Derrick Watkins – Springfield College (MA)

Abudant Life Academy is currently accepting registration applications for the upcoming academic year. For information, visit www.abundantlifeacademy.net or call (973) 667-9700.