It takes a village to raise a child, and the village of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, was in full force in May, supporting students at Dr. Ronald E. McNair P.S. 5 by presenting the inaugural STEMMY Awards to honor educational excellence.
In May, under the leadership of Principal Lena Gates, students, parents, faculty, and staff of P.S.5 literally rolled out the red carpet for the student-led award ceremony. The black-tie affair included a surprise guest appearance from rapper Papoose. The Bed-Stuy native showed support by taking part in a student-led tour that included a visit to Dr. Ronald E. McNair Aviation Center sponsored by American Airlines, where a cast of young aviators demonstrated flight instructions via their high-tech flight simulators, and PS5’s global urban gardeners were on hand to demonstrate how they are using artificial intelligence (AI) to grow sustainable food.
Led by Dr. Robert M. Waterman, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, and guest host Dr. Melissa Chester, the student-led production kicked off with a STEMMY skit and welcome from P.S. 5 educator Brittney Barriteau and her fourth-grade class, who conceived and inspired the STEMMY Award program.
“The STEMMY Awards are just another incentive to motivate our students,” said Barriteau. “We know they are intelligent; we know what they are capable of. We need to keep them motivated and continue to push them to try their best. Thank you for attending PS5’s First STEMMY Award.”
United Steppers of PS5 Step Team at STEMMY event Credit: Qlick Photos 
Recording artist Papoose (second from left) congratulates chest club team winners (left to right) Carter Bryant, Eric Smith, and Cach Grandison Credit: Qlick Photos 
Asani Enriquez, artist who created logo and STEMMY Award, receives honors for his artistic creation Credit: Qlick Photos 
STEMMY Student Aviation Honorees (left to right) Alivia McCullock, Amaiiyah Cain, Milan Oquendo, Khloe Patterson, Richard Roberts, and William McMaster Credit: Qlick Photos 
Brittney Barriteau (far right) and fourth-grade student creators of STEMMY Awards Credit: Qlick Photos
The first PS5 STEMMY for Education went to Dr. Lester Young, Jr., the first African American chancellor of the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. “This award demonstrates to all of us that not only do we know how to educate our children,” shared Dr. Young, Jr, “But we also love our children.”
Other honorees included District 16 Superintendent Branden T. Mims, Dr. Evelyn Castro of Medgar Evers College, and educator Dr. Brenda Boyd-Bell. Students Harold Anderson, Caitlyn Smith, Gerald Smiley, and Cach Grandison also received STEMMY awards for educational excellence, along with artist Asani Enriquez, who created the STEMMY logo and award.
Community stakeholders also received STEMMY Awards, including Dr. Divinah “Dee” Bailey, founder/CEO of Watchful Eye, who attended the affair with a host of family and friends. Bailey urged the audience to continue “fighting for this community” and thanked Gates “for providing a safe place for our children to grow and learn.”
Other STEMMY community honorees were Wayne Devonish, founder of 500 Men Who Make a Difference; the Jefferson Avenue Lion’s Club; Tina Watkins, local community resident and faithful PS5 volunteer; and restaurateurs Sabrina Brockman of Grand Champs and Eduardo Mantelli of Saraghina.
The evening included a drum performance by Brooklyn Arts Council resident drum instructor Mamadou Doumbia and his student protégé Jaymah McKoy. The all-girl United Steppers of PS5 team was also on hand, performing a powerful, uplifting drill performance dedicated to Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Women” poem.
Brooklyn Arts Council resident drummer Mamadou Doumbia (right) and student protégé Jaymah McKoy Credit: Qlick Photos 
STEMMY event participants (left to right) New York State Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, Papoose, Dr. Dee Bailey, and Principal Lena Gates Credit: Qlick Photos 
Ingrid Lewis Martin, senior advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, congratulates STEMMY honoree Dr. Dee Bailey Credit: Qlick Photos