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

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.

“We are proud to continue the #WinterReadyDC campaign for the sixth year,” said Interim Chairman Emile C. Thompson. “We will continue to provide District residents with the tools, information, and resources required to ensure they avoid high utility bills this winter. We encourage consumers to visit our #WinterReadyDC webpage to sign up for their weatherization kit and access additional about assistance programs and energy-saving tips.”

After signing up, residents will receive their weatherization kit via mail. The #WinterReadyDC webpage

#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, will also include a series of instructional demonstration first serve basis at our website. videos on how to use the four piece weatherization kit. “We are proud to continue the #WinterReadyDC campaign for the sixth year,” said Interim The kits contain the following items: 1. Door/window weatherstripping Chairman Emile C. Thompson. “We will continue to provide District residents with the tools, information, and resources required to ensure they avoid high utility bills this winter. We encourage consumers to visit our #WinterReadyDC webpage to sign up for their weatherization 2. Foam pipe insulationkit and access additional about assistance programs and energy-saving tips.” 3. Foam switch and outlet gaskets insulationAfter signing up, residents will receive their weatherization kit via mail. The #WinterReadyDC 4. Window insulation shrink kit webpage will also include a series of instructional demonstration videos on how to use the four piece weatherization kit. The kits contain the following items: 1. Door/window weatherstripping 2. Foam pipe insulation Residents may see a reduction of heating and cooling 3. costs upwards of 20% from use of the kit. The Environ-Foam switch and outlet gaskets insulation 4. Window insulation shrink kit mental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs Residents may see a reduction of heating and cooling costs upwards of 20% from use of the kit. by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in at-The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on tics, floors over crawl spaces and basements. heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements. To learn more about the #WinterReadyDC campaign, or for more information about having #WinterReadyDC To learn more about the #WinterReadyDC campaign, or for more information about having #WinterReadyDC at a community event or meeting, contact us by email. at a community event or meeting, contact us by email. The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is an independent agency established by Congress in The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is an independent agency established by Congress in 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia. 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia.