Education

Maryland Student Earns $25K Horatio Alger Scholarship

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Alhassan Bangura, a Western School of Technology and Environmental Science student from Windsor Hill, Md., is headed to Cornell University in the fall thanks, in part, to a $25,000 scholarship he received from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.

Bangura is one of only 106 students from across the country to receive this prestigious scholarship from the nonprofit educational organization that honors outstanding individuals’ achievements.

The organization, which encourages young people to pursue their dreams through higher education, recognizes outstanding students as Horatio Alger National Scholars for resilience and perseverance.

“My first reaction when I got the call was that I was very excited,” the teen exclaimed.

He noted that officials began the call by asking him for basic information, including his name and school.

After a few moments, his scholarship was confirmed.

“They said, ‘That’s perfect because we like to have the correct information to notify our national scholars,’” Bangura recalled.

“At that point, I was shocked, and I couldn’t believe it because I was only one of 106 people in the country chosen and only one of two from Maryland,” he said.

The Horatio Alger Association noted that scholarships are awarded to students who have remained outstanding in the classroom despite great personal adversity and have reiterated a college degree commitment.

“Our organization is dedicated to the belief that hard work, honesty, and determination can conquer all obstacles. We seek out Scholars who, despite the adversities they may be facing, exhibit these values,” Jim Dicke, the president of the Association, wrote in an email.

“We are proud to support a diverse Scholar population and believe that affording these young people the opportunity to pursue a college degree can make all the difference in their lives,” Dicke remarked.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many, but mainly for the scholars.

“We’ve spoken with students who can’t afford Wi-Fi to take online classes or who have gone days without meals because their parents lost their jobs,” Dicke said.

“When campuses closed abruptly, we even learned that one of our scholars was sleeping in a car because her family was experiencing homelessness. To address these urgent needs, we launched a scholar emergency support program and have disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to assist with food, medical bills and learning resources so our scholars can remain in school.”

A son of immigrant parents who identify as West African Muslims, Bangura grew up in a low-income household. He helps care for his younger brother, who has severe autism.

“He’s low-functioning, and someone always has to watch him,” Bangura related.

“From an emotional standpoint, my brother has no sense of communication, he can’t speak, and he’s unable to learn sign language. It has taken many years for me to accept that this is my brother, whom I will never really get to know as a person even though he lives in my house, eats and sleeps there. It’s not easy.”

Bangura said he hopes to become a doctor and then go into politics.

“I want to become a cardiologist and then go into politics, perhaps at the state level first,” Bangura offered. “I believe the pandemic has shown us that we do need more medical professionals, and we need people from all backgrounds in the lawmaking process.” WI @StacyBrownMedia

AVIATION from Page 13

lease Riverside Airfield in 1945, Greene and Coleridge Mason Gill, a member of the Flying Physicians in D.C., bought it and reopened it as Columbia Air Center.

“The change of name…really reflects their change in priorities from this just being an airfield into being a community center,” said Valera, who the airfield hosted motorcycle races and local dances.

While there, Greene established the Columbia Squadron of the civil air patrol, a civilian auxiliary of the Air Force to teach middle and high school students. According to the museum, it became the first African-American squadron on the East Coast and “maybe even the country.”

Greene retired in 1954 and the Columbia Air Center closed four years later in 1958.

The museum restored a gas pump housed at the original airfield and will be showcased as a new exhibit to highlight the history and Black aviation.

“It really serves as a reminder that this history is not forgetting,” Valera said.

For more information, go to http://www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com. WI

5 Alhassan Bangura (Photo courtesy Horatio Alger Association)

INVITATION TO BID GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Sycamore Associates, LLC

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT: Townhouse construction of 88 townhomes on parcels 10, 14 (a) and 14 (b) on the St. Elizabeths East campus located at 1100 Alabama Avenue SE, Washington DC 20032. Sycamore Associates, LLC is seeking bids for the vertical construction package of the project known as District Towns at St. Elizabeths East.

The project goals are 35% CBE participation for District of Columbia businesses and compliance with the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services First Source Agreement. We are seeking proposals that are inclusive of all General Contract and Scope of Work requirements including all Fees, Taxes and Insurance for the specific bid packages defined below.

BIDS ARE DUE: 3/18/2021 at 5:00 pm by electronic proposal

Plumbing, Framing, HVAC, Framing, Stakeout, Third Party Framing Inspections, Third Party Green Building Inspector, Concrete, Termite, Steel, Stairs, Roofing, Garage Door, Siding, Exterior Trim, House Wrap, Brick, Metal Cladding, Gutters, Sprinkler, Electric Labor, Electric Fixtures, Multi Media, Insulation, Drywall, Ornamental Iron, Ceramic walls and floors, Interior Stair Railing, Interior Trim material and labor, Paint and Stain, Countertops, Flooring, Appliances and Cleaning.

Please contact Roger Rockhill at rrockhill@knutsoncos.com to inquire further about obtaining the documents for your submission of a bid meeting the project qualifications and requirements.

5 John W. Greene Jr., left with bow tie, pictured with Black and white students of the Columbia Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. (Photo courtesy of M-NCPPC)

February 2021. Volume 7. Issue 2 Self-Love & Healing in Black Space