LCCPS’ Khmer Dance Ensemble dazzled the crowd with the “Moonlight Dance.” (Photo courtesy Henry Marte)

Lowell – Lowell Community Charter Public School (LCCPS) proudly announced the overwhelming success of its 5^th Annual Learners to Leaders event, held on April 30, 2026.

The event, celebrating 26 years of educational excellence and community impact, was supported by more than 200 community members and raised over $40,000 to support the school’s Build to Learn Campaign, far surpassing the original goal of $25,000.

The evening was filled with powerful performances and heartfelt tributes.

Highlights included special performances by Tenesha and Declan Scarlett, a talented LCCPS’ mother-son duo, an inspiring speech from Jonathon Sena-Velasque, class president, and showcases from various student performing arts groups.

New this year were two recognition awards, the Learners to Leaders Community Partnership and Champion Awards, which will be a permanent part of this annual celebration going forward.

The Learners to Leaders Community Champion Award honors an individual whose vision, leadership, and service have inspired others and helped transform their community.

This year, LCCPS proudly recognized Leah Okimoto, Founder of Aaron’s Presents and dedicated LCCPS’ parent.

Leah started Aaron’s Presents at LCCPS in 2014 in memory of her son, Aaron, as a way to empower young people to lead with kindness, creativity, and purpose.

Under her leadership, Aaron’s Presents has offered hands-on mentoring and resources to middle school youth—encouraging them to identify community needs, design meaningful projects, and take action to benefit others.

The Learners to Leaders Community Partnership Award recognizes an organization whose collaboration and dedication to shared impact has deeply strengthened our school community and supported students and families.

Merrimack Valley Food Bank was recognized for exceptional work in addressing food insecurity across the region. Through their partnership with LCCPS—especially in support of their in-house Mill Market initiative—the Merrimack Valley Food Bank has helped ensure that students and families have reliable access to healthy food and essential resources.

Notable attendees included State Representative Vanna Howard, Lowell Mayor Erik Gitshier, and many longtime champions of LCCPS who have contributed to the school’s sustained growth and positive community impact over the last 26 years.

“The support of our families and the community means everything to us,” said Robert Gignac, Chief Operating Officer of LCCPS. “The success of this event, and your attendance here tonight, demonstrates your belief in our mission and the future of LCCPS. Every dollar raised brings us closer to realizing the vision of our Build to Learn Campaign.”

Nicholas Leonardos, Executive Director of LCCPS, added, “Our annual Learners to Leaders event is much more than a fundraiser. It celebrates the bright future we are building for our students and the community partners who are on this journey with us, especially the two we recognized this evening, Leah Okimoto of Aaron’s Presents and the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. Leah has mentored our middle school students and given them opportunities to serve their community for the past 12 years, and MVFB supports our on-site Mill Market. We are proud to call them our partners!”

The Build to Learn Campaign represents a nearly $25 million investment in downtown Lowell and in the future of the students and families LCCPS serves. The success of the Learners to Leaders event is a powerful testament to the strength and unity of the school community and its supporters.

For more information about the Build to Learn Campaign or to get involved, please visit www.lccps.org.