EDUCATION Rhodes Scholar Credits DCPS, Charter School Education for Milestone Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer Years before becoming a Rhodes Scholar, Samantha O’Sullivan fostered a love for math and science at BASIS DC Public Charter School and School Without Walls. At both schools, she encountered several adults, including her teacher Edward Ismail and counselor Hafsatu Iro, who encouraged her immersion in the coursework. As she embarks on the next leg of her journey to becoming a research physicist, O’Sullivan continues to reflect on those experiences and a unique District upbringing that inspired a period of academic growth and activism at one of the nation’s most exclusive higher education institutions. “BASIS DC Public Charter School is very rigorous in math and science education; that school built my confidence in those skills and made me feel like I could achieve anything,” said O’Sullivan, a senior who majors in physics and African-American studies at Harvard University. “When I got to School Without Walls, I took advantage of the multivariable calculus and linear algebra courses at George Washington University. Those opportunities boosted my interest in physics at Harvard,” she added. The Rhodes Scholarship, named after British mining magnate and colonial leader Cecil Rhodes, allows students from across the world to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in the field of their choice. Founded in 1902, it’s the oldest postgraduate scholarship in the world and one of the most coveted.
The 2022 class represents more than 60 countries. Shortly before Thanksgiving, the Rhodes Trust announced O’Sullivan and 31 other people from the U.S. as the newest, and most diverse, class of Rhodes Scholars from the United States. O’Sullivan and her peers received endorsements from their college or university. They also navigated a lengthy application process in which they had to demonstrate a propensity for academic achievement, social change and collaboration. After matriculating to Harvard in 2018, O’Sullivan founded and led an African-American student organization with the guidance of historian and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. She also published articles on slave codes and bias against young Black women. O’Sullivan’s research about plasma physics and astrophysics briefly took her to Princeton and Carnegie Institute of Astrophysics respectively. At Oxford, O’Sullivan plans to study condensed matter physics and attempt to figure out how to channel efficient energy sources. She also expressed enthusiasm about building relationships within Oxford’s global Black community. “If there’s a Black student presence, it will be international,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m excited to go to Oxford with my class of scholars [and] explore the options, even if it’s far away.” Another aspect of O’Sullivan’s academic experience involved the Carolinas, the home of Gullah Geechee language and culture. Since the fall of 2019, O’Sullivan has expanded her knowledge of
that world as part of an effort to better understand how language connects to people’s perception of the physical universe. O’Sullivan’s Gullah language instructor, Sunn m’Cheaux, said he respects how O’Sullivan highlighted a discipline that’s rarely explored in academic spaces. As a person who wrote a recommendation letter on O’Sullivan’s behalf, he not only knew about her endeavor early on but fervently cheered her on from the sidelines. “Samantha expressed her ambition, goals and ideas and involved me in some of those,” m’Cheaux said. “I developed a trust for her intuition and idea about what should be next [in her career.] I hope that what she saw for herself would come to fruition on her terms. I’m confident it would be positive because that’s her energy.” WI @SamPKCollins 4 Rhodes Scholar and DCPS alumna Samantha O’Sullivan (Courtesy photo)
#WinterReadyDC Offers Free Weatherization Kits for DC Residents #WinterReadyDC offers free weatherization kits for DC residents
The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC) launches its annual #WinterReadyDC campaign to help DC residents and businesses prepare for winter. Since its inception in 2015, #WinterReadyDC has provided information and resources to help District residents manage their utility bills amidst the changing weather. Free weatherization kits are available for District residents on a first come, first serve basis at our website.
The Public Service Commission of the District of will also include a series of instructional demonstration “We are proud to its continue the#WinterReady#WinterReadyDC campaign forhow the sixth year,the ” said Interim videos on to use four piece weatherization kit. Columbia (DCPSC) launches annual Emile C. Thompson. “We will continue to provide District residents with the tools, The kits contain the following items: DC campaignChairman to help DC residents and businesses information, and resources required to ensure they avoid high utility bills this winter. We 1. Door/window weatherstripping prepare for winter. Since its inception 2015, #Winencourage consumers to visitin our #WinterReadyDC webpage to sign up for their weatherization kit and access additional aboutand assistance programs and energy-saving ” 2. Foam pipetips. insulation terReadyDC has provided information resources 3. kit Foam switch outlet gaskets insulation to help District residents utilitytheir bills After signing up,manage residents their will receive weatherization via mail. Theand #WinterReadyDC webpageweather. will also include a series of instructional videos on how to shrink use the kit four 4. Window insulation amidst the changing Free weatherization kits demonstration piece weatherization kit. The kits contain the following items: are available for District residents on aweatherstripping first come, first 1. Door/window Residents may see a reduction of heating and cooling serve basis at our website. 2. Foam pipe insulation Foam switch outlet gaskets insulation costs upwards of 20% from use of the kit. The Environ“We are proud to3. continue the and #WinterReadyDC 4. Window insulation kit mental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners campaign for the sixth year,” said Interimshrink Chairman Emile C. Thompson. “We will to of provide can save average 15% onuse heating Residents may seecontinue a reduction heatingDisand cooling costsan upwards of of 20% from of the and kit. cooling costs Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attrict residentsThe withEnvironmental the tools, information, and resourcheating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over es required tocrawl ensure they high utility bills this tics, floors over crawl spaces and basements. spaces andavoid basements. To learn more about the #WinterReadyDC campaign, winter. We encourage consumers to visit our #WinterTo learn more about the #WinterReadyDC campaign, or for more information about having or for more information about having #WinterReadyDC ReadyDC webpage to sign up for their weatherization #WinterReadyDC at a community event or meeting, contact us by email. kit and access additional about assistance programs at a community event or meeting, contact us by email. The Public is an independent agency established by The Public Service Commission of the District of Columand energy-saving tips.”Service Commission of the District of Columbia Congress in 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of After signing up, residents will receive their weath- bia is an independent agency established by Congress in Columbia. erization kit via mail. The #WinterReadyDC webpage 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia.
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