Wootton Students Mentor Fallsmead First Graders
When they are not playing basketball or performing at games, students from the Thomas S. Wootton High School basketball team and the poms squad volunteer their time at Fallsmead Elementary School.
Basketball coach Erick Graves started the Wootton Cares reading and mentoring program seven years ago to give his players a way to give back to their community.
“I think our [students] get a lot out of it,” Graves said. “They get to see the power of their presence, and how the power of a simple high-five could change a kid’s day.”
The student-athletes visit the elementary school on Fridays after school to tutor first grade students in reading and other subjects.
“We definitely build relationships over time,” said Karli, a member of the poms squad. “We have been coming for quite a few weeks so we know each other’s names, we know each other’s families and some fun stories about each other. Every time we walk in, you can see their faces light up.”
“They are kind of like big brothers and sisters,” said one of the elementary school students.
The high schoolers say they love being role models and the opportunity to give back to the younger students.
“I went here 11 years ago and I was in their shoes,” said Peter, a Wootton basketball player. “It just feels really good to be able to give back and come back to a place where I went and kind of shaped me into who I am and try to do that for the next generation of kids.”
Rockville High School Sophomore Named Finalist for the Maryland State Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB)
On Saturday, Feb. 11, Madison Watts, a sophomore from Rockville High School, was elected as a finalist for the Maryland State Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). Over 300 student leaders from across the state of Maryland attended the Maryland Association of Student Councils annual Legislative Session hosted by the Wheaton High School Student Government Association and the Montgomery Regional Student Government Association. The other finalist is Abisola Ayoola, a junior from Wilde Lake High School (Howard County). Maryland Governor, Wes Moore, will select one of these finalists as the next Maryland State SMOB in late spring.
Fourteen MCPS seniors received four-year, full-tuition scholarships from QuestBridge
Fourteen MCPS seniors received four-year, full-tuition scholarships from QuestBridge, a national nonprofit organization that connects low-income, high-achieving students with more than 45 top colleges and universities. QuestBridge partners with schools to identify and support students who may not apply to leading colleges. The schools provide full scholarships or large financial aid packages covering tuition and fees, room and board, and books and supplies.
See below for the 14 scholarship recipients, including their high school and the college or university they will be attending:
- Tenin Dembele, Northwest High School—Vanderbilt University
- Sena Forson, Seneca Valley High School—Swarthmore College
- Daniela Freixas-Pavez, Northwest High School—Amherst College
- Roger Fuentes, Albert Einstein High School—University of Chicago
- Lesley Garay, Northwood High School—University of Chicago
- Nahla Idris Habona, Winston Churchill High School—Northwestern University
- Noura Idris Habona, Winston Churchill High School—Boston University
- Matias Ketema, Wheaton High School—Northwestern University
- Ting Ting Li, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School—Duke University
- Jose Martinez Lopez, Paint Branch High School—Columbia University
- Kimmie Nguyen, Paint Branch High School—Amherst College
- Argelia Rodriguez, Sherwood High School—Davidson College
- Jibran Shaikh, Thomas S. Wootton High School—Colby College
- Amorie Zsako, Quince Orchard High School—Wellesley College
QuestBridge administers the National College Match application focusing on the achievements and academic success of students who face economic challenges.
