EDUCATION
Students Awarded FourYear College Scholarships Academics Equates to Dollars for Friendship Collegiate Academy Youth By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer When Dimani Jones, a junior at Friendship Collegiate Charter School in Northeast, goes off to college this summer, he will not only be the first male in his family to take on the challenges of higher education, but he’ll continue to counter claims that he’d never amount to anything. In fact, 16-year-old Dimani, a second-time recipient of an Office of the State Superintendent for Education [OSSE] scholarship that enables him to earn college credits while still in high school, appears to be well on his way to accomplishing his goal of becoming a business owner. “Last summer, I attended Duke University and this time I’ll be attending Harvard University,” Dimani said. “I think what motivated me the most to succeed in school was that people didn’t really believe in me when I was younger,” said Dimani, who plays varsity football player at Friendship. “My family supported me but there were other people who didn’t because back then, school wasn’t that important to me,” he said. “I was always a football and basketball fanatic but coming to Friendship really changed me and motivated me to become a good student.” While Dimani lists as the only one of Friendship’s students this year to receive an OSSE scholarship, he counts among six students from the D.C. region to receive the award that’s provided to high-achieving, academically-motivated students who exhibit financial need for attendance in selective summer college programs. But Dimani isn’t the only Friendship student poised to take advantage of a college scholarship. Three of his fellow peers – Mark Walker, Javon Lee and Valencia Perry – have also received four-year, fully-paid tuitions through POSSE awards, each of which average up to $170,000. For Mark, a senior at Friendship, that means attendance this fall at the University of Rochester in upstate New York.
“I plan on being [among some of] the first people in my family to graduate from college because most who enrolled dropped out . . . I want to be the example for my little sister.” –Mark Walker “I plan on being [among some of] the first people in my family to graduate from college because most who enrolled dropped out,” said Mark. “Neither of my parents went to college, so I want to be the example for my little sister.” Javon, who plays soccer at Friendship, will attend Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in the fall. The 17-year-old youth said the decision to do well in school has been mostly of his own choosing, since he’s lacked full family support. “I had to decide one day what was going to be best for me in the long run – going to college and having a good career as a lawyer was my decision,” Javon said. “Then, when it’s time for me to take care of [my parents] I want to have enough income so that it won’t be a struggle.” At the end of summer, Valencia, also 17, will be headed to Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. She credits her parents with inspiring her to be successful. “What motivated me the most to do well in school, was seeing my father receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland after having pursued it for many years,” Valencia said. “My mom pushes me to be the best I can be in school and as a person. Most important, I understand that my parents just
Friendship Collegiate Academy students (left to right) Valencia Perry, Javon Lee, Mark Walker and Dimani Jones are all poised to continue their studies this summer and fall at four of the country’s best private colleges and universities./Photo by Dorothy Rowley
want me to achieve more than they did.” POSSE scholars are defined as a small, diverse team of talented students – essentially “a posse” – who attend colleges, where together, they get to know and support each other. Arsallah Shirzay, dean of Early College at Friendship explained that POSSE scholarships, which are awarded nationwide, are also administered regionally with more than 1,500 public and private school students from the District, Maryland and Virginia nominated each year. However, he added that after undergoing a rigorous three rounds of interviews, just 4 percent were selected for this year’s scholarship awards. Shirzay also noted that since 2006, Friendship – where 97 percent of students graduate on time and 100 percent of the graduating class gets accepted to college – has had 28 POSSE scholars. “The scholarships for which the competition typically begins in September and goes all the way to the end of December, are merit-based with a leadership component,” said Shirzay, adding that this year the D.C. region boasts 61 POSSE scholars who will attend six colleges, including the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Grinnell College in Iowa. “The POSSE students, who are selected largely for their leadership skills, overall motivation to succeed [and academic potential], are not going to these colleges and universities for sight-seeing or remedial work,” said Shirzay. “They’re embarking on a very powerful learning experience.” WI
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