Good News

MCPS Bulletin Posted On February 1, 2023

Fourteen MCPS seniors have received four-year, full-tuition scholarships from QuestBridge, a national non-profit organization that connects low-income, high-achieving students with more than 45 top colleges and universities. QuestBridge partners with the 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.

The 14 MCPS students, their high schools and the college scholarships they received are:

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.

Duo Honored for Service to Montgomery Invitational

Pictured from left to right are: Duke Beattie, former director of MCPS athletics; Tom Rogers, athletics director at Walter Johnson High School; Tom Martin, indoor track coach at Walter Johnson; and Jeff Sullivan, current director of athletics.

Tom Rogers and Tom Martin of Walter Johnson High School were recently honored during the Montgomery Invitational, the signature indoor track competition hosted by MCPS since 2001. Rogers is athletics director at Walter Johnson, and Martin is indoor track coach at Walter Johnson. They were recognized for their service to the invitational, which they started to create an elite showcase prior to championship season, and have directed ever since. The meet, which welcomes students from 95 schools around the region and serves as a fundraiser for MCPS, has been hosted at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center since its inception.

Blake HS Earns AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

For the second year, James Hubert Blake High School has earned the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.

More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2021-2022 school year. In 2022, Blake was one of 209 recognized in AP Computer Science A.

“We’re thrilled to congratulate our female AP computer science students and their teachers on this step toward gender parity in computer science education,” said Bob Sinclair, principal of Blake High School. “We’re honored that our school earned this distinction and look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer science education and careers.”

AP Computer Science A students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant in today’s society.