Alumni

Kamaria L. Holt, a member of the Class of 2008, is a highly accomplished educator who completed her undergraduate studies at Five Towns College and earned a degree in Education. Driven by her unwavering commitment to the field, she pursued and completed a Master's in Special Education from St. Joseph's University, further augmenting her expertise. Kamaria's dedication to leveraging her knowledge and skills to make a positive and lasting impact in the field of Education is palpable. Her passion and commitment to excellence serve as an inspiration to her colleagues and scholars alike.

Faith’s athletic prowess is highlighted by an array of achievements. As a Women’s Track and Field Athlete and Captain at LIU, she boasts an exceptional track record, including being the LIU Record Holder in Discus with an impressive throw of 43.80m (143’ 8”). Her dominance extends to being a 2x NEC Champion, 3x NEC MVP, and a 3x NEC Athlete of the Week. Faith has also earned the title of 6x NEC Prime Performer of the Week.

Her notable performances in various events include:

 • Discus: 43.80m (143’ 8”) at the George Mason EBanks Invitational
 • Weight Throw: 15.94m (52’ 3”) at the Fast Track National Invitational
 • Shot Put: 12.14m (39’ 10”) at the 2023 NEC Indoor Championships
 • Hammer Throw: 43.42m (142’ 5”) at the George Mason EBanks Invitational

Faith’s list of athletic accolades is extensive, showcasing her dedication and skill:

 • Jan 2024 NEC Women’s Athlete of the Week
 • Current holder of LIU Women’s Discus Record (43.80m)
 • 2023 NEC Outdoor Women’s Track and Field MVP
 • 2023 NEC Outdoor Championships Outstanding Field Performer
 • 2023 NEC Discus Champion
 • April 2023 NEC Women’s Athlete of the Week
 • 2023 NEC Indoor Championships Co-Outstanding Field Performer
 • 2023 NEC Weight Throw Champion
 • 2023 NEC Shot Put Second-Team* (*Second team meaning placed second place)
 • Feb 2023 NEC Women’s Athlete of the Week
 • 6x NEC Prime Performer of the Week
 • 2022 NEC Discus Second Team*

In addition to her athletic feats, Faith has excelled academically:

 • Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and Wellness
 • Expected Date of Graduation: May 2024
 • Dean’s List, Current GPA: 3.82
 • 3X NEC Commissioner’s and Academic Honor Roll
 • NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist
 • Women’s Track and Field representative on Student Athlete Advisory Committee
 • Lead Intern in Athletic Operations department

As Faith continues her journey, she stands as an inspiring figure, demonstrating that with determination and talent, one can achieve excellence both on and off the field.

In our Westbury Union Free School District alum spotlight, we proudly feature Andrew West. Andrew graduated from Westbury High School in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently completed his studies with honors in Environmental and Sustainable Engineering at the University at Albany, class of 2024. Congratulations, Andrew!

Denisha West, an alumna of the Westbury Union Free School District, proudly received her white coat as she pursued becoming a doctor. While at Westbury, she stood at the pinnacle of her class, clinched the number one spot in Nassau County for the triple jump, and held the distinguished title of being the best in New York for her outstanding triple jump performance.

Congratulations to Westbury Union Free School District alumni Elizabeth Saintil for her remarkable achievement of making the University of Albany track team. We are incredibly proud of her dedication, hard work, and determination. Elizabeth's success reflects her talent and the strong foundation she received at Westbury. We wish her continued success in her athletic journey and beyond, inspiring current and future students. Go Bulldogs!

Congratulations to Westbury Union Free School District alumni Elizabeth Saintil for her remarkable achievement of making the University of Albany track team. We are incredibly proud of her dedication, hard work, and determination. Elizabeth's success reflects her talent and the strong foundation she received at Westbury. We wish her continued success in her athletic journey and beyond, inspiring current and future students. Go Bulldogs!

Alumni Spotlight: Christopher Berry '04
Executive Director, The Playwrights Realm

Christopher Berry, a 2004 Westbury Union Free School District graduate, has built a remarkable career in theatre, education, and the arts. He currently serves as Executive Director of The Playwrights Realm, a role he calls both “thrilling and an honor.”

After graduating from Westbury, Berry earned his BFA in Acting from North Carolina A&T State University in 2008 and an MFA from Brown University/Trinity Rep in 2011. His career has included leadership roles such as Arts Director at the Penumbra Center for Racial Healing and President of the Black Theatre Network. He’s also served at the Billie Holiday Theatre and worked as a dialect coach on The Hot Wing King and the TV series P-Valley. In higher education, he’s taught at UNC Charlotte and Florida A&M.

Berry credits his parents—and his early exposure to the arts in Westbury—for inspiring his path. “Kelvin Jenkins inspired me to pursue a professional career as an artist,” he shares.

Like many, he’s faced personal challenges along the way. “I have had to balance being a caregiver with my professional career,” he says. “I had to find mechanisms and methods to balance my responsibility and creative desires.”

Among his proudest moments are guiding legacy institutions and mentoring young artists. “Being the Arts Director of Penumbra was a milestone because I was responsible for maintaining a historical legacy while moving it toward the future.”

Berry reflects on Westbury as a place that affirmed his identity: “It didn’t treat your background as a deficit but as a source of pride.”

His advice to current students? “Learn to fail fast and redefine your relationship with failure.”

And his fondest memory? “Track practice—specifically throwing with Coach Ross.”

🔗 More alumni stories or to submit your own: westburyschools.org/alumni

Alumni Spotlight: Camille G. Lawrence, Class of 2009
Founder of Black Beauty Archive | Archivist | Web Archivist | Curator
www.camilleglawrence.com

Camille Lawrence is an archivist, curator, and former professional makeup artist deeply committed to preserving Black history through both physical preservation and web archiving. Her work bridges the gap between traditional archival practices and the ever-evolving digital landscape, ensuring that history is not only remembered but also accessible for future generations. She has shared her expertise at national symposiums, on academic panels, and in grassroots community conversations that explore the intersections of archiving ephemeral art forms and Black identity formation.

Her work has been seen and published on various platforms, including VOGUE, Teen Vogue, Oprah Daily, CNN, ESPN, Netflix, Disney, Nike, ABC, Sophisticate’s Black Hair Magazine, and more. Her first exhibition premiered at Miami Art Basel in 2022. She has had the privilege of presenting and speaking on panels for institutions such as The Society of American Archivists, Getty Research Institute, Harvard University, and Ohio State University. In addition, Camille curated inclusive programming at NYU for two years, helping expand and diversify their archival collections.

On Juneteenth of 2020, Camille launched the Black Beauty Archive, a physical archive dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the rich history of Black beauty culture. What began as a personal journey, rooted in her career as a professional makeup artist, evolved into an extraordinary archival project that affirms the cultural significance of Black beauty practices.

Reflecting on her path, Camille shared: “After graduating high school I was too nervous to declare myself an artist/visual arts major so I pursued a career in Art History. After working in museums for a bit and accidentally stumbled into the archive, I was amazed at the wide range of opportunities that existed in the field of Library Science. Less than 5% of archivists in the U.S. identify as Black and when I came to learn of the power that archivists held, specifically on what history is preserved or discarded, I chose to pursue a career as an archivist. I learned very quickly that if we are not in the room, our histories are at-risk of not being preserved or accurately told. It was then that I decided to commit myself to preservation and memory work.”

Camille also shared the challenges she faced: “Early in my career I faced a lot of ageism, sexism and discrimination. In many internships and job titles I was either the first Black person in the role or the youngest person in the room. Thankfully I connected with mentors and elders who gave me encouragement and words of wisdom that affirmed my confidence to continue to take up space.”

She credits the Westbury Union Free School District for laying a strong foundation for her academic and professional journey. “My grandmother Lorraine Blackman was an educator in Westbury School District for decades at Dryden Street School. Her leadership and commitment to education being accessible and inclusive really set the standard of quality education. Aside from my grandmother teaching me, I greatly appreciated the robust honors courses, tech resources, and superstar educators at Westbury School District. The educators who always went above and beyond for me were former Principal Gloria Dingwall (Park Avenue), Julie Corwin (Drexel), Helisse Palmore (Middle School), and Shahana Khairoola (her English honors requirements, especially around annotations, helped me tremendously in continuing my education).”

Her advice to current Westbury scholars is both practical and powerful: “I would encourage all Westbury scholars to take FULL advantage of the wide range of resources provided at local libraries and build relationships with your in-school librarians and educators. Challenge your educators and guidance counselors to provide more internship, college, and extracurricular opportunities that may exist beyond sports.”

When asked how she stays current in her field, Camille noted, “I continue to seek out professional development, certifications, and connect with innovators and leaders in the field of physical and digital preservation. I also join national and local membership organizations to build larger networks.”

And one of her fondest memories from Westbury? “The annual musical performances—specifically those curated and led by Lynette Carr-Hicks (Show Choir) and the Gospel/Select Choir with Kelvin Jenkins.”

Camille Lawrence exemplifies what it means to turn passion into purpose, and Westbury is proud to count her among its distinguished alumni.