Panthers Earn Academic Scholarships

Fanta Dabo Co-Editor-in-Chief

As we head into the college acceptance season, it is important to highlight certain students, as their hard work stood out in the competitive field of scholarships. Four Paint Branch seniors, Jose Martinez, Kimmie Nguyen, Isaiah Douglas, Bryan Beri, and one junior, Malik Aremu, have earned academic scholarships for colleges and training programs.

Martinez and Nguyen won the QuestBridge Scholarship, a full four-year scholarship worth over $200,000 each and known for its competitiveness. This scholarship designs and builds programs for talented, low-income students to access and navigate exceptional educational and life opportunities. Martinez recently committed to the university ranked #18 in the nation, according to the U.S. News, Columbia University, while Nguyen plans to head to the #2 school among the Liberal Arts Colleges in the nation, Amherst College.

Douglas and Beri were awarded prestigious Posse Scholarships, which, according to the Posse Foundation, are awarded annually by a foundation with a primary goal to “expand the pool from which top colleges and universities can recruit outstanding young leaders from diverse backgrounds.” Sixty colleges and universities are part of the program, and each year they partner to offer fulltuition scholarships and strong cohort groups to students. Douglas was awarded a scholarship to Bucknell University, the Liberal Arts College ranked #37 in the nation, while Beri is headed to the University of the South, ranked #51 in the nation.

Finally, Cadet Aremu, a member of PB’s NJROTC program, was awarded the Naval Air Forces Aviation Scholarship, which he will take advantage of after he graduates in 2024. This scholarship consists of a fully-funded pilot training program where Aremu can attain his private pilot’s license along with earning college credits. Out of 257 applicants from across the country, Aremu and 25 others were selected for this opportunity.

It is safe to say that congratulations are in order for these Panthers, as their hard work and dedication continues to be seen in the overwhelming period of college acceptances.

Mr. Hernandez Named Maryland Assistant Principal of the Year

Yeabsira Getachew Co-Editor-in-Chief

On February 9, 2023, one of our very own, Assistant Principal Ricardo Hernandez, was awarded the title of Assistant Principal of the Year by The Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals.

PB faculty and staff were called into the auditorium after school for a “staff meeting” that served as the ruse to surprise Mr. Hernandez. As he took his seat, little did Mr. Hernandez know that his family, the Executive Director of MASSP, Addie Kaufman, as well as Dr. Christine Handy, President of the Montgomery County Association of Principals, were waiting in the front to honor him.

Recalling his initial reaction, Mr. Hernandez stated, “It was very surprising just because I know how many great administrators there are not just in MCPS but across the state and across the nation.” Mr. Hernandez, who has been spreading his light and leadership at PB for eight years, began his educational career as a teacher before switching to administration. As for why he moved to administration he noted, “You can impact lives on a much greater scale and I was kind of drawn to that. I loved teaching; it was great and I was just able to expand it that much more when I became an administrator.”

Mr. Hernandez was overwhelmed with gratitude and slightly teary-eyed as he accepted the award with his wife and one of his two sons by his side. As for what the award means to him, he stated, “I just think it makes me hungrier to keep doing it and do it better.” When discussing the future of his career, he noted, “Eventually, maybe I’ll be in a position to maybe run a building of my own; but until then, I’ve got a pretty big charge ahead of me and I’m gonna keep doing it.”