On May 19, 2026, 191 seniors graduated from Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy during a ceremony held at the Pontchartrain Center. The Class of 2026 achieved numerous honors and awards. Notably, 45 percent of the graduates earned the honor graduate distinction, achieving grade point averages above 3.5. An impressive 94 percent of the class were accepted into a college or university. The Class of 2026 collectively received $3 million in scholarships and awards, excluding TOPS.
Forty-two seniors were recognized as “Homegrown Heart” honorees, a distinction awarded to those who completed 13 years of their formal education at Kenner Discovery. These students began their journey with us as kindergartners in our inaugural year.
The senior class accumulated a remarkable 663 college credit hours through Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment courses in partnership with Southeastern Louisiana University. Kenner Discovery also offers various workforce readiness programs to help students prepare for their futures. Many students earned industry-based credentials, enhancing their resumes and increasing their earning potential in various job markets. In total, the Class of 2026 earned 326 career-based certifications. This included six seniors who obtained the FAA Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) Certification, 41 who became Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMA), 22 who are Certified Patient Care Technicians (PCT), 58 who achieved Adobe Certified Specialist status, 23 who earned ServSafe certifications, and 14 earned a CompTIA (IT) certification. An impressive 85 percent of seniors earned a Platinum, Gold, or Silver ACT/WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate.
Throughout the year, the Class of 2026 completed over 10,356 hours of community service with in the local community. The senior class was involved on campus: 53% participated in a sport offered at Kenner Discovery, and 58% were involved in at least one student organization.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026 for demonstrating honor, endurance, academic achievement, responsibility, and tolerance during your time at Kenner Discovery. You have set a remarkable example for future classes. Congratulations to each and every one of you—this is just the beginning of a bright and promising future!
Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Valedictorian
Bailey Burd
Bailey Burd has received the Valedictorian Award for achieving the highest cumulative grade point average in her program of study. She has attended Kenner Discovery since the 5th grade and is the daughter of Melissa Hardy and the stepdaughter of Randy Hardy. Bailey plans to attend Louisiana State University to pursue a degree in Computer Science.
During her time at Kenner Discovery, Bailey was actively involved in various student clubs and organizations. She was a member of Freshman Academy Mentors, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National English Honor Society, National Honor Society, and the music program. Additionally, she served as a Pathway Ambassador. Bailey earned a Gold STEM Seal Diploma Endorsement in Engineering by completing the eight required Pre-Engineering courses.
Salutatorian
Caleb Siliezar
Caleb Siliezar received the Salutatorian Award for achieving the second-highest cumulative grade point average in his program of study. He has attended Kenner Discovery since the fourth grade and is the son of William and Juanna Siliezar. This summer, Caleb will begin leadership programming in Arizona before attending Texas A&M in the fall to major in Civil Engineering. Notably, Caleb is Kenner Discovery’s first Gates Scholarship recipient, selected from over 60,000 applicants nationwide as one of 750 students nationwide.
During his time at Kenner Discovery, Caleb was actively involved in the National Honor Society, the music program, and served as a Pathway Ambassador. He earned certifications in FAA Part 107: Small Unmanned Aircraft Operations and CompTIA IT Fundamentals. Additionally, Caleb was one of four students to complete an IT internship with Ochsner Health this year.
National Merit Finalist
Jaden Newman
Jaden Newman has achieved an impressive milestone as Kenner Discovery’s first National Merit Finalist, placing her among the top 1% of academic performers in the country. She will be attending Louisiana State University, where she plans to major in Pre-Medicine.
Recognized as a “homegrown heart” honoree, Jaden’s educational journey began at Kenner Discovery in Kindergarten. During her time at Kenner Discovery, she participated in various organizations, including Freshman Academy Mentors, HOSA, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and the National Honor Society. Additionally, she served as a Pathway Ambassador.
Jaden was also a student-athlete, competing on the powerlifting, track, and wrestling teams while at Kenner Discovery.
She has earned certifications as a Patient Care Technician and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. This year, Jaden completed an internship with Ochsner Health and received a Gold Biomedical STEM Seal Diploma Endorsement.
GRADUATES
Those graduating Summa Cum Laude (4.0 and above) were Chaela Monet Alexander, Ava Angelle Brandt, Mia Michelle Breaux, Blair Ann Burd, Bailey Lynne Burd, Avid Andree Cardona, Gabriella Nevaeh Daneshrad, Mia Fuentes, Ariana Gonzalez-Ortiz, Lyndsey Blaire Griffith, Manjari Guha, Rand Mohamed Hashi, Margarita Varuzhan Isakhanyan, Laila Marie James, Claire Elizabeth Knoth, Brianna Soary Litolff, Yesica Mareli Maldonado, Julia Malak Mankarious, Emelyn Loany Mendoza-Acosta, Miguel Angel Menendez-Hernandez, Camden Reid Miller, Curry Cassin Muller, Jaden Evans Newman, Ala Ziad Odetallah, Katie Elizabeth Orgeron, Miley Vy Pham, Isabella Mina Dao Phan, Brandon Anthony Poulin, Sofia Maria Rico, Connor Patrick Rogan, Isabella Veronica Romero, Jamani R’dayja Sandifer, Kennedy Gabrielle Seals, Nema Sanaa Shaw, Caleb Alejandro Siliezar, Nevaeh Faith Smith, Peyton Melanie Tablas, Roman Tai-Hung Tran, Jorge Anthony Vazquez, Alyssa Kaitlyn Verrette, Minh Ha Duc Vo, and Isaiah Stone Vogel.
Graduating Magna Cum Laude (3.75-3.99) were Grayson Philip Broussard, Brenden Douglas Hebert, Mason Maximus Holt, Samirah Aishani Jasmine, Yusra Naveed Khan, Noor Fatima Khan, Dylan Michael Lanclos, Olivia Marie Lassalle, and Desteny Valentina Martinez-Rodriguez
Graduating Cum Laude (3.50-3.74) were Danniel Luis Aguilar, Jaelynn Adriana Alcantara, Rosaleen Nicole Alvarado, Henry Alexis Bernal-Parra Jr., Jude Dean Caldcleugh, Sophia Marie Caronna, Antonio Edward Castro, Isabella Sofia Colindres, Jeancarlos José Contreras-Tinoco, Addison Grace Diaz, Isabella Michelle Driscoll, Nestor Duarte-Bonilla, Sage Lily Mae Eilers, John Michael Gross, Samuel Paul Hassenboehler, Grace Marie Hernandez, Tayler Morgan Hoggatt, Gavin Michael Lewis, Za'Kaiya Reahanna Lewis, Emily Sophia Mena-Aguilar, Sophia Paola Orellana, Sebastian Martin Ortiz, Jack Aiden Ratcliff, Kara Marie Rodriguez, Madigan Marie Sanchez, Lilly Rose Smith, and Katherine Gisselle Vasquez.
Also graduating were Fadi Shadi Abualia, Sophia Gabriela Aguilar, Adriel Alberto, Hannah Marie Almeida, Gustavo Emanuel Alves-Moreira, Jose Ismael Alvez Jr., Masa Nidal Ammar, Nathan Tsi Anderson. Dawn LeAnne Arceneaux, Araseli Argueta-Maldonado, Aiden Patrick Babin, Odel Fabian Bello-Mejia, Michael Francis Benoit, Donald Michael Bowman Jr., Jaheir Evelyn Breaux, Peyton Elizabeth Brown, Sofie Adele Buschbach, Reagan Elizabeth Cancer, Nicolas Cardenas-Hernandez, Cameron Hollis Carmouche, King Jason Castro-Hernandez, Gabriella Aylin Ceren, Miya Jasmine Chase, Angel Chavarria-Betancourt, Abdullah Dawood Cheema, Nathan Fisher Cisneros, Jayden Christopher Coleman, Ashley Cuellar-Alvarez, Marissa Marie Cuevas, Brennan Michael Deist, Kayra Rihanny Deleon, Yanessa Ruby Delgado, Davi Bezerra DeSouza, Mekhi Xavier Dunbar, Maya Xaire Dunbar, Peyton Maddox Elmer, Emil Josue Espana, Colin Matthew Evans, Makayla A Fisher, Abigail Lynn Fonseca, Antonio Enrique Ford, Jaylan Alan Fort, Leah Nicolette Galindo, Josyra Delmis Gallardo, Julieth A Garcia-Morter, Alejandra Isabella George, Jonathan Michael Graffagnini, Kevine Lamar Green, Jailynn Green, Ahmad Hassan Hachem, De'Ron Anthony Hayes, Asa-John Simon Hebert, Daniel Roberto Hernandez-Brito, Abby Sofia Hernandez-Suazo, Halie Nicole Hihar, Peyton Joseph Hill, Johnathan Christopher Hines, Gemarr Elliot Hodges, Sophia Marie Hope, Thomas Jay House, Harrison George Howat, Madison Grace Hughes, Emma Claire Hughes, Brian Jamere Hunter, Cristy Linh nhi Huynh, Claire Amelia Jacob, Aidan Royce Jarrell, Rayan Umer Khan, Ethan Michael Kihnel, Ronald Joseph Krummel III, Kiara Vanessa Lanza, Zoei Marie Irene Martinez, Oscar Adrian Martinez-DeEscobar, Andrea' Susana Martinez-Flores, Sama Magdi Mohamed, Christian Aiden Montes, Melany Sofia Morales, Brissia Michell Munguia-Medina, Lenny Alessandro Munoz, Nihal Najeeb, Kaslym Debbye Navas, Waleed Odeh, Amine Ahmed Oukada, Britney Rachell Oyuela-Gomez, Anthony Denys Padron-Romero, Adriana Gabriela Parrilla, Eduardo Daniel Pineda-Perez, Lennin Joel Poveda-Meza, Maria Fernanda Ramos-Chavarria, Delvin James Rhea Jr., Dylan Thomas Rinehart, Paulo Vitor Saleh Robichaux, Ivan Quiency Robinson, Shane Anthony Rooney, Ethan Joshua Rotchford, Hunter Lyn Sadowski, Jane Merithza Sandoval, Alexys Elizabeth Schilling, Mike Eddy Seymour, Bastian, Augustin Silva-Pardo, Jaden Ramelli Slack, Melvin Zamir Soto, Brielle Lynn Stephens, Ashleyn Nuwany Suazo, Leah Vanessa Tejeda, Kayla Melva Verrette, Luis Jose Villanueva-Ventura, Caleb Mekhi Vincent, and Hailee Marie Volpi.