Congratulations to our March 2025 #BuildingOurFuture Students of the Month Nana-Yaa Nunyuie, a senior at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability and Vivian Brennan, a senior at Riverside High School.
Nana-Yaa Nunuie’s Greatness Derived From Her Strength, Passion and Joyful Nature
Meet March Student of the Month Nana-Yaa, affectionately called Nana, and who endearingly brings joy and inspiration to all she encounters.
Senior Nana-Yaa Nunyuie is a role model. Her teachers and administrators say she works hard to be the best student she can be and makes Southern School of Energy and Sustainability proud.
“My goal is to dwell on and continue to love my future career and learn and better myself,” said the student leader. “Passion is what motivates me to achieve my goals.”
Nana-Yaa said she’s proud of the personal growth she’s attained and how she’s remained true to herself. She attributes her strong work ethic to her mother who “is a very strong woman if not the strongest I know. She raised me to be strong-minded and courageous in life.”
Teachers and administrators says Nana-Yaa is a personable student who brings joy to those around her. She works as a Media Assistant in the Media Center and represents Southern on the Superintendent's Advisory Team. She’s also a member of the National honor Society and the Student Government Association. After graduating from Southern, she plans to attend college and major in biology to become a microbiologist.
While on her way toward microbiology, she thinks her biggest accomplishment thus far is being named Student of the Month and then high school graduation.
Nan-Yaa is well-rounded and has interests outside of academics as well.
“Outside of schoolwork, I am an ambassador for my school, involved in Track and Field, and enjoy it,” she said, noting that among her creative passions are photography, painting, dancing, sewing, and graphic design.
Her counselor Quincey Bradley believes in Nana-Yaa’s success.
“I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you for being named the March Student of the Month! This is such a well-deserved recognition of all your hard work and dedication. You’ve consistently impressed me with your academic excellence and your commitment to success. With a 3.3 GPA and 31 credits under your belt, you are truly setting an example for your peers. Keep up the great work—I'm incredibly proud of you, and I can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll continue to achieve! Once again, congratulations on this achievement!” said Bradley.
Riverside’s Vivian Brennan Personifies Excellence
Meet DPS March Student of the Month Vivian Brennan, champion swimmer, stellar human
Vivian Brennan is a humble superstar. Her principal, teachers, and administrators consider her a Riverside Renaissance Scholar due to her standout showings as an athlete, a student and an overall person.
The swim champion has earned top showings at state-level swim competitions and is known as “a stellar scholar with outstanding academic achievements.” But her human qualities run parallel to her achievements.
“Beyond her athletic and academic success, she is known for her kindness, leadership, and dedication to her peers and community. She demonstrates strong character, balancing her rigorous commitments with grace and determination. Vivian is a role model who embodies the values of hard work, perseverance, and compassion, making her a truly deserving recipient of this honor,” said her principal Dr. Gloria Woods-Weeks.
Teacher Seth Stallings is the one who likens Vivian to a modern ‘Renaissance Scholar’.
“She is an academic standout by any measure, a top athlete having achieved both state and national recognition for diving, and an artist both at the piano and with her painting. She is driven yet humble, and she brings her strong character to every interaction such that everything and every person she touches is better from the experience,” said Stallings.
Vivan says she thanks her mother for her character gene, and says her love of reading “is a passion we love to share,” she said.
She adds that her mother was her first teacher. “She has taught me the importance of kindness and empathy, as well as being strong-willed and working hard. She is honest and sincere and demonstrates her values through all of her words and her own actions,” she said.
The multi-talented All-American has been accepted to Princeton University and plans to continue competitive diving while there, then go to medical school to study for a career as a neurosurgeon.
It’s evident that Vivian is determined and undeterred.
“I love learning and challenges, and the idea of bettering myself and overcoming obstacles motivates me to work hard and push myself,” she said.
Vivian returns to her elementary school once and sometimes twice a week before going to Riverside in the mornings to tutor a third-grade class. She enjoys helping, and especially watching the growth of the young charges.
“A success that I am proud of is the progress that I have seen each class make throughout the years,” she said.
Humbly, the 4A Diving State Championship winner– which she considers the biggest accomplishment of her life so far– says she still aims to make progress toward improvement in one particular area of her life herself.
“One challenge for me is not always getting enough sleep, due to being so busy and also wanting to spend time pursuing my non-school and sport-related hobbies, including reading, painting, and playing piano.”
At Riverside, Vivian serves as a Model UN Club leader. She also participates in a number of additional clubs, including Battle of the Books, Science Olympiad, Young Democrats, and National Honor Society.