On the floor of the stadium, a bubbling current floods into rows upon rows of chairs. Teachers and administrators lead their students to their designated seats to await the start of the ceremony. Each student brandishes a medal; on its front side are engraved three books, a globe and an oil lamp with a hooked handle and curved spout. The students’ focus flashes around the stadium from their peers to the stage and to their families in the stands. Rapid percussion echoes from wall to wall; the beats on these djembes are round and whole — pulsing and vibrant. This is Spirit of Excellence.

Spirit of Excellence is Parkway’s annual celebration of African American achievement, taking place in February to align with Black History Month. 12 years ago, current Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Facilitator Amanda Clair began helping plan Spirit of Excellence when she was a teacher’s assistant. For the past three years, however, she has coordinated the entire event. At the start of the ceremony, Clair welcomed the audience, and superintendent Keith Marty introduced the ceremony’s mistress and master of ceremonies, both of whom were students.

“We always want to encourage student leadership, give them an opportunity to speak before their peers [and] illuminate a possible passion they may not recognize they have. We give them opportunity to spread their wings, as well,” Clair said.

Each year, Clair works with Parkway administrators like assistant principal Kate Piffel to select two students of the same school as mistress and master of ceremonies. Currently, Spirit of Excellence operates the selection process with a rotation, meaning each school contributes two emcees every few years.

“I [went] through our students [and] gave McCabe a list of names. We discussed a little bit, but he’s the one [who] ultimately calls the students in to see if they’re interested,” Piffel said. 

In 2024, Central High School students Taylor Boyd and Derrick Brooks rose to the challenge of being emcees, but this year was West’s turn to take the podium. McCabe and Piffel chose junior Jamaya Love to represent Parkway West as Spirit of Excellence’s mistress of ceremonies.

“Jamaya is an amazing role model. She’s very strong. I love that she has very strong convictions in what is right and wrong, and she is an amazing leader for other students and other people,” Piffel said.

Spirit of Excellence has a tradition of inviting alumni back in hopes their stories motivate current students. Even so, this year an alumna persuaded Love to become an emcee.

“When Piffel first told me [the news], I was nervous because it was a face-to-face conversation,” Love said. “My cousin told me she was the emcee in high school. She [told me to] do it because it was fun for [her], so it [was] worth a shot.”

When creating the list for potential emcees, Piffel considered students’ comfort with public speaking.

“Even though she might not always be vocal, she certainly is comfortable speaking up if she sees something that’s not right,” Piffel said. “She is that person people follow to see how [to] act. She’s a great kid all around.”

In addition, McCabe and Piffel selected sophomore Trent Young to complement Love as the master of ceremonies.

“I think of [Young] as larger than life. He’s got a great personality. He’s outspoken, but in a tactful way; he’s also not afraid to speak up,” Piffel said. “If you think about being balanced with [Love], their two personalities can bring out the best in each other.”

Young balances school with his membership in West’s Black Student Union and participation in LEAD Parkway, a program related to LEAD STL. Both programs are focused on inspiring change through the perspectives and experiences of the Black and Jewish communities.

“I would describe myself [as phenomenal] because I’m a very outgoing person. I work very hard to achieve my goals, and anybody can come to me for just about anything,” Young said. “I’m never here to judge you. I am never here to make you feel down about yourself. I only want to encourage people and lift them up.”

Each year, the ceremony rediscovers the humble origins of Spirit of Excellence, which began in 1996 at a restaurant called “The Salad Bowl,” where only 15 students were awarded. The medium for expressing the legacy of Spirit of Excellence varies — there have been videos and panels — but one common thread is the question: “what does Spirit of Excellence mean to you?”

“I think excellence can be broad, whether it’s what you do outside of school [or] whether it’s dance, singing, working, or [striving] to meet your goals for later in life. Spirit of Excellence means having the spirit of excellence,” Young said. “Spirit [is] something in you. If you have that spirit and that mindset that you can be excellent, then you will be excellent.”

In recent history, every Spirit of Excellence ceremony has had a theme. In 2022, it was “Through it all: Legacy-bound,” a fitting title for the ceremonies that happened virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, it was “United We Thrive,” and in 2024, “Be The Light.” This year, the theme was “Our Ancestors’ Dreams.”

“Our ancestors have endured so much pain, hurt and even power. If you look back [before the abolition] of slavery and pre-Civil Rights Movement, [black people] didn’t have these ceremonies in [predominantly white institutions] because we weren’t allowed to be integrated with white students,” Young said. “Having [the] ceremony itself is the dream.”

After each student had been recognized and an original poem by South High student Daniyah Anton had been read, Love and Young announced what many consider to be the main event of the ceremony. Like troops, uniformed students shuffled onto the platform as the step team took center stage. In moments, the yelling, stomping, clapping — stepping — began. And in moments, it was over. Applause hailed from every corner as Clair returned to the mic for closing remarks.

“My hope for Spirit of Excellence [is] for our students to understand the magnitude of their greatness. When we come together as a unit, as a culture, as an entity, we can move mountains,” Clair said. “It is powerful for us to see how many high-achieving African American students we have across the entire district. Some schools have few students of color, [and] some schools have [many]. Even [so], they might not always see one another, so this is an opportunity for us to [say] ‘I see your greatness.’”

Students exited the arena and entered the corridors where they found their certificates and families. They exchanged hugs, gifts and, eventually, goodbyes. 

“My favorite part of Spirit of Excellence has always been watching my brothers and sisters, surrounded by love and compassion and excellence, being able to be honored and seen in a way that [others] may not see [them],” Young said.

At the Spirit of Excellence ceremony, some 513 recipients were recognized, 116 volunteers made the ceremony possible and 27 West High students received the award. But only Love and Young represented Parkway West and the whole of Parkway’s black community.

“I want to [let] other people know [that] if they get chosen [to be an emcee] in the future, it’s okay to take the opportunity,” Love said. “Knowing there [are] people out there who look up to me, [I want them to know] anybody can get out there and do it if I can.”

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Sage Kelly

Clapping their hands, sophomore Taylor Banks rehearses her step routine. Banks joined the step team because she wanted to perform. “[My favorite part of Spirit of Excellence is] performing, because it’s very fun and engaging. [I liked] the outro [this year] because it was creative,” Banks said.