Prince George’s County Track Standout Voted Refuel With Chocolate Milk Athlete of the Year

By JANENE GEISS
American Dairy Association North East

NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 10, 2026)—American Dairy Association North East has announced the winners of the second annual Refuel with Chocolate Milk Athletes of the Year, including Brooklyn Little of Elizabeth Seton High School of Bladensburg, Md.

A total of 24 student-athletes across three disciplines were nominated based on performances at The Armory in New York City during the 2025–26 indoor track and field season. Following a public vote that wrapped up in May, the final six honored athletes included:

• Girls’ Sprinter of the Year: Jane Hickey | The Ursuline School | New Rochelle, N.Y.

• Boys’ Sprinter of the Year: Cameron Homer | Bullis School | Potomac, Md.

• Girls’ Distance Runner of the Year: Naomi Douglas | LaGuardia High School | New York, N.Y.

• Boys’ Distance Runner of the Year: Ryan Sykes | Horace Greeley High School | Chappaqua, N.Y.

• Girls’ Field Athlete of the Year: Brooklyn Lyttle | Elizabeth Seton High School | Bladensburg, Md.

• Boys’ Field Athlete of the Year: Owen Proskin | Plum Senior High School | Plum, Pa.

The Refuel with Chocolate Milk Athlete of the Year Awards are one example of how dairy farmers, represented by American Dairy Association North East, partner with The Armory to support student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence.

The partnership also helps raise awareness of chocolate milk as a science-backed recovery beverage. With an ideal ratio of carbohydrates to protein, chocolate milk helps rehydrate the body, repair muscles, and replenish energy after intense activity.

“As dairy farmers, we take great pride in providing nutritious products that help fuel the ambitions and achievements of young athletes,” said dairy farmer and American Dairy Association North East Board President Audrey Donahoe, whose family operates ATRASS Farm in Clayville, N.Y. “Chocolate milk, in particular, plays a crucial role in their performance and recovery.”
 
“Everyone here at The Armory is delighted to team up with local dairy farmers and share the wonderful product of chocolate milk as a delicious and effective refuel and recovery beverage for all of our athletes,” said Rita Finkel, Co-President of The Armory.

In addition to honoring this year’s Refuel with Chocolate Milk Athlete of the Year Award winners, American Dairy Association North East served as the presenting sponsor of the Refuel with Chocolate Milk Officials Hall of Fame Invitational in January.

Through its ongoing partnership with The Armory—which hosts over 220,000 athlete visits annually—the association engages athletes through on-site branding, signage, chocolate milk sampling, and as a sponsor of the Refuel Zone, where athletes and spectators alike can purchase chocolate milk to recharge after competition or simply enjoy nutritious refreshments.

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Prince George’s County Native Matthew Crittenden Sets Sail as Mainstage Performer on Disney Wish

By PRESS OFFICER
Matthew & Crissy Crittenden

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (June 11, 2026)—Matthew Crittenden, a 20-year-old professional dance artist from Prince George’s County, Maryland, is preparing to set sail as one of the newest cast members and mainstage performers aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish. Known on social media as Thatboy Matthew, Crittenden will begin performing June 15 through December 14 in featured shipboard productions and special entertainment experiences.

Crittenden’s performance lineup aboard Disney Wish includes Set Sail, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Seas the Adventure, along with special performances such as the Pirate Deck Party, Halloween and holiday shows. He recently spent two months in Toronto, Canada, training at Disney’s rehearsal studio in preparation for the opportunity.

“This opportunity represents years of dedication, training and love for the performing arts,” said Crittenden. “I am excited to bring energy, storytelling and joy to audiences from around the world aboard Disney Wish.”

Crittenden began dancing at age 5 and has trained and performed with renowned dance schools and companies, including The Washington School of Ballet, The Alvin Ailey School, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dance Dimensions and the Washington Wizards WizKids Dance Team. His stage credits include The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Debbie Allen’s Brothers of the Knight, Washington National Opera’s AIDA, Broadway Across America’s A Christmas Story, MC Hammer’s House Party concert and the Special Olympics ceremonies in Los Angeles.

A rising senior at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Crittenden is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance and is expected to graduate in May 2027. He is a 2023 graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., where he was recognized as a notable alumnus and received the D.C. Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Performing Arts. Disney Wish offers three- and four-night itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island destinations.

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