{"id":291032,"date":"2026-05-31T18:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T18:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/291032\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T18:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T18:26:14","slug":"photo-essay-englewood-high-among-duvals-most-diverse-celebrates-commencement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/291032\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTO ESSAY | Englewood High, among Duval\u2019s most diverse, celebrates commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Faiza Alnour traveled too far to let tiredness thwart her from achieving her educational dream.<\/p>\n

Alnour graduated from Englewood High School with a 3.9 GPA on Thursday. She was born in Sudan and spent time in Egypt before moving to the U.S. shortly before high school.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s exciting because I waited for too long. I worked hard,\u201d Alnour said.<\/p>\n

More than 30 family members and extended family members celebrated Alnour\u2019s achievement outside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 28. <\/p>\n

\"Englewood<\/p>\n

\t\tFazia Alnour and Mawadda Khedir celebrated with family and friends after graduating from Englewood High School. The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

The month of May was a culmination for many students, parents, caregivers and the wider village of people who support and champion local students.<\/p>\n

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\t\tThe 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

More than 7,000 students earned their diploma from a Duval County Public School this May. Their path to the stage is diverse.<\/p>\n

\"\"The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026.| Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

They include the stories of the 408 students who graduated from Englewood Thursday morning inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. <\/p>\n

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\t\tEnglewood High principal Marleny Chirino acknowledged graduates with smiles, hugs, handshakes and encouraging words during the 69th Englewood High Commencement on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Englewood, in a Southside neighborhood<\/a> at the forefront of the city\u2019s demographic shift into a minority-majority community, has historically had one of the district\u2019s highest rates of chronic absenteeism, and district data indicate 52% of its students are economically disadvantaged. Nevertheless, Englewood Principal Marleny Chirino<\/a> said from the stage Thursday that nearly 100% of the class of 2026 earned diplomas.<\/p>\n

\"Englewood<\/p>\n

\t\tDuval County Public Schools Superintendent Christopher Bernier shakes the hand of Englewood High Class President Jordon Echevarria during the 69th Englewood High Commencement on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Englewood\u2019s 69th graduating class collectively earned more than $5 million in scholarships to continue their education. Nearly 120 of them earned the district\u2019s Seal of Biliteracy. More than 90 were members of the National Honor Society. Three students earned their associate\u2019s degrees in advanced manufacturing<\/a> at the same time as their diplomas. <\/p>\n

\"\"The family of Englewood High salutatorian Gilliane De Luna celebrates her academic achievement during the 69th Englewood High Commencement on Thursday, May 28,2026. De Luna plans to attend the University of North Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

For many, getting to graduation was an accomplishment. One graduate lived in her car for part of the year after her father died; another was displaced by war in their homeland before immigrating to Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

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\t\tGage Stephens, Bryce Wells, Eric Walker, Darlingston Williams and Angel Norris were among the 408 students who participated in the 69th Englewood High Commencement on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

No two stories were the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels amazing. I never thought I would make it this far. I thought I would fail,\u201d Jance Acevedo said.<\/p>\n

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\t\tKenia Cartagena and her son Jance Acevedo celebrate his graduation from Englewood High School. The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Acevedo said he had doubts during his high school years, but he adjusted his priorities as graduation neared and earned A\u2019s and B\u2019s during his senior year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt took a lot of discipline, respect and courage. I thank my family for their support,\u201d he said after the ceremony alongside his mother Kenia Cartagena and father Felix Orlando. \u201cWithout them, I wouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cartagena wiped beads of sweat from her son\u2019s face on the sweltering afternoon as they stood near magnolia\u00a0trees taking portraits from the moment.<\/p>\n

A few feet away, Daniela Covarrubias orchestrated portraits for her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, he did it!\u201d Daniela said of her first-born child. \u201cHe didn\u2019t give up like I thought he would at one point. He wanted to. He didn\u2019t. I\u2019m very proud of that. We got him to this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juan Covarrubias III says he felt compelled to keep going to high school so he would \u201cbe able to do something\u201d in life. Thursday was a pinnacle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of emotions at once because you\u2019re reminded you won\u2019t see a lot of people anymore,\u201d Covarrubias says. \u201cYou\u2019re done with school. You can\u2019t also help but to feel happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The Covarrubias family celebrates Juan III\u2019s graduation from Englewood High School. Back row, from left: Juan Covarrubias II, Juan Covarrubias III, Daniela Covarrubias. Front row: Maria Jose Covarrubias, Alejandra Covarrubias and Julian Covarrubias. The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Juanito, as his family calls him, is the oldest of Daniela and Juan\u2019s four children. He was born when Danielle was 16. They are a Mexican-American family who moved to Jacksonville from Michigan in 2020.<\/p>\n

Daniela says Englewood provided an example for her son to be introduced to different cultures, different upbringings and different viewpoints.<\/p>\n

\"\"The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

District data indicate 42% of Englewood\u2019s students are Latino, 29% are Black, 17% are white and 11% are other races.<\/p>\n

\"EnglewoodThe 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Englewood has students from 50 countries. Its student body speaks 25 languages or dialects. Many graduates decorated their caps in celebration of Colombian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Jamaican, Venezuelan, Honduran, Haitian or Sudanese heritage.<\/p>\n

\"\"The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026.| Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

\"\"The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026.| Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Mawadda Khedir says she adorned the Sudanese flag on her cap to represent her culture. Khedir is a member of the National Honor Society who graduated with a 3.9 GPA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy all the work paid off,\u201d Khedir says. \u201cIt was trial and error. I\u2019m really grateful for my parents and all the hard work they went through just to get me to where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MawaddaMawadda Khedir says she adorned her graduation cap with the flag of Sudan to celebrate her heritage and the effort her parents made to get the family to Jacksonville. The 69th Englewood High Commencement awarded diplomas to more than 400 students on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Alnour earned the Seal of Biliteracy because she is fluent in Arabic and English.<\/p>\n

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\t\tAn Englewood High graduate thanked her parents for their sacrifices and support during her educational journey by decorating her cap at the 69th Englewood High Commencement on Thursday, May 28, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n

Another student decorated her cap with gold letters on top of pink glitter. The Spanish translated to \u201cFor the smiles of my parents who arrived with nothing and gave me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n