Queen City Academy Celebrates 25 Years, Honors Community Leaders at ‘Soaring to Success’ Gala

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Queen City Academy Charter School (QCACS) on Thursday evening celebrated its 25th anniversary with a sold-out “Soaring to Success” Gala at the Plainfield Country Club in Edison. Celebrated television news anchor Brenda Blackmon served as emcee for the event.Queen City Academy Charter School opened in September 2000 on Watchung Avenue. Twenty-five years later, it is located on West 8th Street with 72 students. It is now a K-12 institution with over 300 students. Last spring, the school reported that all of its seniors had been accepted to college.Presented by The Friends of QCA Foundation, the gala recognized New Jersey Assemblywoman and Plainfield native Linda Carter, along with QCACS alumni and community leaders. The night also featured jazz, dance, and choral performances by Queen City Academy students.“Queen City Academy Charter School has spent 25 years proving that academic excellence is our North Star and failure is not an option,” said Danielle West-Augustin, CEO and Chief Academic Officer of QCACS. “The ’Soaring to Success’ gala was our chance to celebrate how far we’ve come, honor those who have championed us all along the way, and raise the resources to keep building for our scholars’ bright futures.”“Receiving Queen City Academy’s Responsibility Award is a true honor, as it reflects the importance of accountability and service in both education and public life,” said Assemblywoman Linda Carter. “Queen City Academy continues to set a powerful example by shaping students into thoughtful, responsible leaders. I am proud to support the school and to advocate for policies that expand access to high-quality education for all. This recognition represents our shared commitment to uplifting students and strengthening our community’s future.”Aside from Linda Carter, the gala honored: Ramon Rivera, partner at Antonelli Kantor Rivera PC, received the High Ethical Standards Award; Dr. Brian Kramer, Director of the GI MSL Team at Johnson & Johnson and former QCA Board President, earned the Excellence Award; professional golfer Bill Castner was presented with the Caring Award; and alumna Jasmin Lopez, an MBA candidate at the University of Michigan, received the Lifelong Learning Award.“It was an unbelievable experience accepting the Caring Award at the Queen City Charter Academy Soaring Gala. The Caring Award humbles me, as it recognizes not just our efforts at Plainfield CC and the First Tee but the power of people working together for close to fifteen years to strengthen and support the Plainfield community," said Bill Castner.The sold-out event featured a silent auction and other ways to contribute to QCACS' fundraising efforts.Right now, QCACS is developing a new facility to be located at 746 Grant Avenue in Plainfield, and expects the project to be complete in July 2027.“I’m proud to celebrate the success of QCA’s first gala," said Yonkez Coleman, Treasurer for the Friends of Queen City Academy Charter School Foundation. "From Brenda Blackmon’s engaging hosting to the inspiring student performances and honoree stories, the evening truly reflected the strength of our community and mission. We’re excited for what’s ahead, including the continued growth of the school and the new facility!”