Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Amira Elrington-Edwards, a graduating senior at Elmont Memorial High School, was named Senior of the Year during the Senior Awards Ceremony in the school’s auditorium on June 5.
During the three-hour ceremony, 48 community-sponsored scholarships and 14 school department-sponsored scholarships, totaling over $202,000, were awarded to 113 students. Amira took home 15 of them, totaling more than $27,000.
“We are incredibly proud of all our seniors and their accomplishments during their time with us at Elmont Memorial,” Principal Marya Baker said of the Class of 2025.
At the end of the ceremony, Baker announced Amira as Senior of the Year — a moment Amira cited as one of her proudest achievements.
Amira said the scholarships she was awarded during the ceremony will help fund her first year at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she will study finance beginning this fall.
She also received an $18,000 academic scholarship from Howard when she was accepted and committed to the college’s soccer team, along with additional financial aid. After all the scholarships she earned from the high school, college and community, her grand total is around $45,000. She said her entire first year of college is covered in full, with $15,000 to spare for the following year.
“I’m super grateful and honored to have received so many scholarships and awards,” Amira said. “It really does mean a lot.”
Since January, Amira made frequent trips — almost daily, she said — to the guidance counselor’s office to submit applications and essays for scholarships. Before the ceremony, she knew she was receiving four and estimated she would receive about four more. To her shock, she nearly doubled that number.
In addition to her academic achievements, Amira plays soccer, football and track at the high school. She also participated on the winter cheerleading team, as well as the jazz and marching bands. She was named Scholar Athlete of the Year at Elmont Memorial on June 4, the night before the scholarship ceremony.
She is co-president of the student government, sharing the title with her friend Imani Lyons, and participates in the Future Business Leaders of America, the Leading Ladies Initiative and the Elmont Key Club. She is also a member of seven honor societies.
Amira’s brother, Aaron Elrington-Edwards, and her grandmother, Mildred Edwards — who is her legal guardian — said it was no surprise to see Amira graduating with so many accolades.
Mildred, whom Amira and Aaron said instilled in them a strong work ethic from childhood, felt nothing but pride in Amira’s triumph on June 5. Although, Mildred admitted, she’s used to applauding Amira’s many awards over the years.
“You cannot explain the feeling of joyfulness,” Mildred said of Amira. “She has always been a good student, and she makes you very proud.”
Aaron credited their grandmother’s support as one of the main reasons both he and Amira have had successful academic careers. He also cited the rich, multicultural community of Elmont, their family’s Caribbean heritage, and deep faith in God as motivators for both of their accomplishments over the years.
“You can see the push for excellence throughout our community,” Aaron said. “That has been instilled in Amira, and so we expect greatness from her.”
Amira said her goal is to pursue a law degree after earning her bachelor’s and begin a career in Big Law, eventually transitioning into corporate law.
“I’m excited for what’s to come and what my future holds,” Amira said, thanking her teachers, school staff, friends and family for their support.
