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Rams Celebrate POWER Scholars at Rites of Passage Ceremony

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Rams Celebrate POWER Scholars at Rites of Passage Ceremony
The Harriton POWER Scholars pose for a group picture on stage with their Kente cloths.

Harriton High School recently celebrated the graduating seniors of the POWER Scholars Program during its annual Rites of Passage Ceremony, an evening rooted in reflection, recognition, community and cultural tradition.

Friends, family, classmates, teachers, staff and alumni gathered in the cafeteria to honor this year’s POWER Scholars as they marked a meaningful milestone in their Harriton journeys. The evening featured a formal entrance by the honorees, remarks from students and alumni, special recognitions, a shared meal and the traditional Kente Ceremony.

Principal Stu Warshawer welcomed guests and congratulated the seniors on their accomplishments, commending them for the leadership, perseverance and personal growth they have demonstrated throughout their time at Harriton. He then introduced Mr. Nate Bantoe, coordinator of the POWER Scholars Program, who served as emcee and guided an evening filled with heartfelt reflections and moments of celebration.

Rooted in African heritage, Rites of Passage ceremonies mark important life transitions and recognize the growth, responsibility and sense of purpose that come with entering a new stage of life. At Harriton, the annual ceremony serves as both a celebration of the graduating POWER Scholars and a tribute to the community, culture and connection that have supported them along the way.

One of the evening’s most meaningful traditions was the presentation of Kente cloth stoles to each graduating POWER Scholar. Originating among the Ashanti and Ewe peoples of Ghana, Kente cloth has a rich history and is widely recognized as a symbol of honor, achievement, heritage and pride. Its vibrant colors and intricate patterns reflect themes of strength, unity, legacy and celebration.

Throughout the evening, speakers reflected on the impact of the POWER Scholars Program and the bonds formed through mentorship, shared experience and mutual support. Seniors were recognized not only for what they have accomplished, but also for the example they have set and the promise they carry into the future.

Congratulations to the POWER Scholars Class of 2026! Click through the slideshow below to see moments from this special celebration!

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In the foreground, young people serve themselves from trays of food, while in the background, others mingle in a brightly lit hall.
Large illuminated letters spelling %22HHS%22 stand on a table in the foreground, while a group of students walks down a brightly lit school hallway in the background.
A collection of graduation-themed photo booth props, including signs with phrases like %22GRAD%22 and %22Most Likely to travel the world,%22 are scattered across a black surface.
A smiling man with braided hair stands at a podium in front of a blurred background with balloons.
Three people, two young men and a woman, stand together in the foreground with a hallway and display cases in the background.
In the foreground, two foil pans are filled with saucy chicken dishes, while in the background, more catering trays are lined up on a table.
Three young men in the foreground smile and interact at a table adorned with flowers, while in the background, other people gather in a brightly lit hall decorated with balloons.
A man speaks at a podium in front of a large screen displaying %22Harriton High School POWER Scholars Rites Of Passage.%22
Large illuminated letters spelling %22HHS%22 stand in the foreground, with a group of students walking down a hallway in the background.
Two young men, one in a suit and the other in scrubs, stand in the foreground of a hallway lined with people, with a %22NURSE%22 sign visible in the background.
Four young women stand behind a buffet of food, with a large window and trees visible in the background.
A man speaks at a podium in front of a large screen displaying %22Harriton High School POWER Scholars Rites Of Passage.%22
Four young people sit in chairs in the foreground, while a large, open space with an American flag and a %22Free School Breakfast%22 sign is visible in the background.
A young man in an orange shirt looks over his shoulder at a table with flowers and a water bottle, while other people are blurred in the foreground and background.
Two young men with curly hair, one in a light green shirt and the other in a red plaid shirt, are seated in the foreground with a blurred background.
A man in a denim shirt speaks at a podium in front of a screen displaying %22Harriton High School POWER Scholars Rites Of Passage.%22
In the foreground, a young woman with curly hair in a blue and white checkered strapless top looks to her right, while in the background, other people are seated at tables with decorations and a screen displaying an image.
Guests are seated at round tables in the foreground, while a stage with a speaker and graduation banners are visible in the background of a large hall.
A young Black woman with long, braided hair speaks into a microphone at a podium, with a blurred screen displaying text in the background.
A young man in a black shirt speaks at a podium in front of a screen displaying %22Harriton High School POWER Scholars Rites Of Passage.%22
A woman with glasses and a black top speaks at a podium in front of a screen displaying %22POWER S%22 and %22Rites Of Pa%22.
A young boy with a wide smile sits on his mother's lap in the foreground, while blurred figures are visible in the background.
A woman speaks at a podium in front of a screen displaying %22Harriton High School POWER Scholars Rites Of Passage.%22
Six young people stand holding certificates in front of a %22Class of 2023%22 banner and balloons.
A smiling young woman in a white crocheted cardigan and maroon dress holds a certificate of participation in front of a %22Class of 2023%22 banner.
Three women stand in front of a table displaying graduation sashes and flags, with balloons in the background.
A smiling young woman in a black top and pants, wearing a graduation tassel, stands in front of a %22Class of 2021 Congrats Grad%22 banner.
A group of eight young people stand on a stage in front of a banner that reads %22CLASS OF 2023%22 with decorative banners and balloons in the background.
Two young women adjust a colorful graduation stole on a young man in the foreground, while a blurred background suggests a celebratory event.
A young man proudly holds a certificate in front of a graduation banner.
A young woman in the foreground is being presented with a kente cloth sash by two women, while balloons float in the background.
A smiling woman in a blue shirt and colorful scarf stands in the foreground, while a line of graduates in matching sashes and balloons are visible in the background.
A group of graduates in Kente cloth sashes pose for a photo in front of a decorated backdrop.
A smiling young woman in graduation regalia stands in front of a %22Congrats Grad%22 banner and a gold balloon.
A young man in a graduation stole and cap holds a diploma in front of a %22Class of 2021%22 banner.
A group of graduates in Kente cloth sashes pose for a photo in front of graduation banners and balloons.
A family of seven poses for a photo in front of a %22Class of 2026%22 banner.
Three young men in graduation sashes stand in front of a %22Graduation 2023%22 banner.
Two young men proudly display their certificates of participation in the foreground, while blurred figures and large windows form the background.
A proud family poses for a photo in front of a graduation banner.
Two women stand on a stage in front of a %22Class of 2026 Congrats Grad%22 banner.
Three people, two young women and a man, stand in front of a graduation banner that reads %22OF 2026 CONGRATS GRAD%22.
Three people pose in front of a %22Class of 2026 Congrats Grad%22 banner.
A family of four, dressed in traditional African attire, poses for a photo with diplomas in hand, against a backdrop of graduation decorations.
Three smiling individuals, two young men and an older man, stand proudly in the foreground holding diplomas, with a %22Class of 2026 Congrats Grad%22 banner in the background.
A young woman in a graduation stole stands in front of a %22Class of 2026 Congrats GRAD%22 banner.
Two young women pose in front of a %22Class of 2026%22 graduation banner.
Four people pose for a photo in front of a graduation banner and balloons.
Two smiling graduates in stoles stand in the foreground, with a decorated room featuring balloons and a table in the background.
A family poses for a graduation photo in front of a black backdrop adorned with %22GRAD%22 banners and balloons, with white fabric arches framing the scene.
Two young girls stand in front of a black curtain with %22GRAD%22 banners and balloons, holding a book.
Four smiling people in graduation attire stand in front of a white backdrop adorned with balloons and arches, with a colorful, decorated wall visible in the background.
Two people stand in the foreground, with a blurred background of a room with chairs and tables.

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