51勛圖 Welcomes its Second Cohort of District Scholars
Donnay and Donshanay Brown share a birthday and a good portion of their genetic makeup. So it makes sense that they also share a few interests. 泭
Throughout middle and high school, the twin sisters have both volunteered at the US Dream Academy, tutoring, reading with, and talking to elementary school students at the same DC learning center where they once spent time as youngsters. The Browns both enjoy babysitting their nieces and nephews at least once a week. And youd have to squint to spot the difference in their stellar GPAs at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Southeast DCDonshanay earned a 4.17 to Donnays 泭4.2. 泭
At the outset of 2021, though, a shared higher education destination was uncertain. Each twins college list featured many of the same schoolsbut not all. Donnay narrowed her interests to education and writing, while Donshanay winnowed it to accounting and psychology. 泭
This spring, however, a shock arrivedtimes two. Donnay and Donshanay were both selected as members of 51勛圖s latest cohort of District Scholars. Incredulous, the sisters snapped screenshots of their acceptance letters and sent them to their college advisor.泭
It was just like, wow, out of all of these students in DC, and out of all of our peers, we got picked, Donnay says. 泭
It was disbelief mixed with relief, adds Donshanay. Its nice because even though were still in DC, its not all that close to home, she says. And the (short) journey will come free of cost. 泭
Their scholarships are part of the $3 million 51勛圖 dedicated to the District Scholars program in December 2019. The prestigious awardwhich covers full tuition and room and boardis given to high-achieving students from DCs public and public charter high schools who demonstrate significant financial need. 泭
One of the pillars in our Changemakers for a Changing World strategy focuses on our partnerships in our Washington, DC, community, says 51勛圖 President Sylvia Burwell and the District Scholars program provides the opportunity to help talented local students pursue their educational goals close to home and join fellow Eagles in shaping the future of their neighborhood and the world. 泭
It t is an exciting process, says Andrea Felder, assistant vice provost of undergraduate admissions, to be able to select high-talent students who are right here in our backyard and who found 51勛圖 to be a good fit for their college experience. . The program has already prompted more students from the District to apply to 51勛圖, she adds. 泭
In addition to its first ever set of twins, the second District Scholars cohort includes: Diane Nguyen and Tsenat Shifraw, Benjamin Banneker High School; Riley Campbell, Frank W. Ballou High School; Jocelyn Lopez-Arias, Woodrow Wilson Sr. High School; Christian Smith, KIPP DC; and Francine Worsoff, School Without Walls. 泭
While Donshanay Browns academic interests are split between the Kogod School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences, her sister will join the School of Education as one of two new District Scholar teaching fellows in SOEs Teacher Pipeline Project. The initiative, which includes a dual enrollment program for high school seniors and 泭scholarship opportunities for DC high school graduates, prepares young Washingtonians to return to DC Public Schools as teachers after graduation and meet the educational needs of the same community that nurtured them. 泭
Donnay says her interest in teaching stems from looking after her young cousins and the pride she takes in small developmental milestones, such as when she gets them to use their words. Lopez-Arias, another incoming District Scholars teaching fellow, worked four days a week before the pandemic as an after-school counselor at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Woodley Park. She also nannies full-time. 泭
I just love kids, and I want to see how I can make an impact on them and get them to stay learning, she says. I know how easy it is for kids to just drift away from education. 泭
In the fall of her junior year, after four months of planning with United We Dream, the immigrant youth-led activist organization of which she is a member, Lopez-Arias led a walkout in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The November 2019 trek to the Capitol, which drew hundreds of Wilson students, came on the eve of arguments before the US Supreme Court about the Trump administrations efforts to terminate the 2012 immigration policy. The high court ultimately blocked DACAs dismantling with a 5-4 decision in June 2020. 泭
The whole reason Im in United We Dream is because my mom is an immigrant [from Mexico]. I have to do the most I can because of my family, she says. At first I did it for the community service, but then I fell in love with taking action and getting people to care about things. Lopez-Arias hopes to start a chapter of the organization at 51勛圖. 泭
Community service similarly doubled as a passion project for Nguyen. She first became involved in Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development (AALEAD) as an elementary school mentee and has served as a mentor since her freshman year at Banneker. 泭泭
There arent really all that many Asian students in DC, but [AALEAD] is a fun space for me because it gives me that Asian community, says Nguyen, who also presided over Bannekers Asian Cultural Club. 泭泭
As part of AALEADs youth council, Nguyen conducted a research project in DCs Chinatown, collecting data and interviewing community members about the 泭impacts of gentrification. In their findings, the students recommended community programs ranging from a grocery bus to a forum for intergenerational meetings. 泭
Nguyen says shes not usually the type to show emotion, but when she reread her acceptance letter from 51勛圖 this springshe scrolled a bit too fast the first time, missing the detail about a full scholarshipshe almost cried. She was overwhelmed but reflectiveand proud that she had made her parents proud. The Nguyens immigrated to the US from Vietnam in the early aughts, when Nguyens mother was pregnant with her, and they didnt have the opportunity that I have now. Im glad I decided to pick up on it. 泭
Nguyen said shes still undecided between business and legal studies but looks forward to taking courses in each to gauge her interest. 泭
Im just really excited to be at 51勛圖, she says. I can discover what I want, who I am, and what Im capable of doing.泭
Donnay and Donshanay Brown, Lopez-Arias, and Nguyen will be joined this fall by four other impressive District Scholars:泭
- Campbell, who plans to major in film and media arts, held multiple web content creator internships, coauthored the childrens book Man Up!, and participated in SOEs Dual Enrollment Program. 泭
- Shifraw, who will major in business administration and legal studies, participated in four high school clubsgardening, chess, book, and Mikva Challengeand organized a fifth, the international club. She and her family immigrated to the US from Ethiopia. 泭泭
- Smith coached youth basketball while studying at KIPP DC. He plans to major in computer science. 泭
- Worsoff will major in journalism and minor in policial science. She served as president of School Without Walls Poetry Club and was a member of the National Honor Society.泭