2024-25 lee mitchell scholars

Nicole Carter is a Senior at Indian River High School where she participates in their Selected A Capella Choir and musical theater. She has been selected for Sussex County Honors Choir and All-State Chorus every year since 7th grade. Upon graduation, Nicole plans to attend college to obtain a degree in Music Therapy. Nicole explains, “No matter what I do in the future, I will always keep music in my life, both instrumentally and vocally”. In addition to singing, Nicole plays multiple instruments, her primary instrument for concert band is the Euphonium. This fall, she’ll step on the field as one of two drum majors leading Indian River High School’s Marching Band.

Caliana Velasquez, a senior at Sussex Technical High School, has been singing since she was five years old. She is currently a member of Sussex Tech’s Choir and has participated in musical theater. Caliana has been named to Sussex County Honors Choir and All-State Chorus several times. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in music education. On her goal, Velasquez explains, “Whether teaching or performing, I’d like to keep music a key part of my life”.

  Gabriel Young is a Senior at Indian River High School where he is active with the school’s Choir as well as its A Capella choir. He has been continuously involved in choral music every year since middle school. In addition to choral endeavors, Gabriel has been a part of a handful of musicals throughout high school, including “Mamma Mia”, produced by the Indian River High School Drama Club and two community theater productions, “Seussical” and “Into the Woods”, through his involvement with Possum Point Jr. Players. In addition to his other hobbies, Gabriel enjoys writing. As for what comes after graduation, he explained that whatever he did, he hopes it includes writing. “I just really love creating stories for other people to enjoy, which is part of why I love singing so much. It's just a different form of

storytelling”.