On May 3, Greenbelt’s Advisory Committee on Education (ACE) held their 28th student awards ceremony. The ACE student awards recognize Greenbelt students who honor the city’s traditions of citizenship, leadership and academic achievement. They complement the Educator Awards, which ACE presented to teachers and staff members from Greenbelt’s schools in March (see the March 22 Greenbelt News Review issue).
The student awardees each received certificates of recognition from the city, the county and the state. ACE also presented each of the elementary and middle school students with a $25 Amazon gift card and the graduating Eleanor Roosevelt High School winners with a $2,500 scholarship. In addition, the honorees were invited to walk with ACE in the 2023 Labor Day Festival Parade.
ACE Awardees
Members of ACE shared comments from the six Greenbelt schools as they recognized the awardees.
Inioluwa Isaac Ajakaye, Magnolia Elementary
Robert Snyder presented the award and described Inioluwa as kind, considerate and a team player. He is in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program at Magnolia and plays the saxophone, drums, piano and guitar. He was the featured soloist at the Magnolia Elementary Winter Concert. He was also a speaker at the Men Make a Difference Day at the school. “Inioluwa is a team player and works as an active participant in the community and an active learner at school,” reported Snyder.
Paula Justo Mendez, Magnolia Elementary
Paula Justo Mendez thinks beyond herself, often assisting classmates at school and her siblings at home when they may need help with assignments or projects, reported Snyder. She received the Mustang Award for the first quarter of the year, an award is given to a single student each semester for exhibiting citizenship and leadership, while reflecting “the Magnolia Way.” Paula is also a member of the Magnolia Star and of Boy Scout Troop 36, serves as a student government representative, member of the WMES news morning announcers and is a student ambassador, conducting student-led tours of the school building in Spanish to acclimate students to the school. “Paula is a true reflection of citizenship and integrity,” read Snyder.
Chrishaun Jackson, Springhill Lake Elementary
Korrie Johnson described Chrishaun Jackson as kind-hearted, honest, loyal and a good friend. He works hard to maintain good grades and shows kindness and respect toward others. Korrie serves as a peer mediator, helping other students learn to make good social choices. “Chrishaun is quiet-spoken but leaves a powerful impact on those fortunate enough to know him,” reported Johnson. “He is an excellent nominee for the Greenbelt Student ACE Award.”
Ashley Tamayo, Springhill Lake Elementary
Ashley Tamayo has been at Springhill Lake from kindergarten to fifth grade. She is kind and thoughtful and described by her friends as honest, fair and generous, said Johnson. “Ashley began school as an ESOL student, and after learning English she became a tutor in the Reading Together program, helping other students improve their reading,” Johnson shared. Ashley is active in the school’s cooking and drama clubs and serves as a peer mediator. “In this role she encourages students to use dialogue and engage in mutual respect as a way to resolve differences,” said Johnson. Ashley also enjoys Sunday school and singing with the church choir. At home she assists her mother with the house and with her baby brother and other younger siblings. “Ashley’s willingness to engage in school and home activities tell why she is an ideal nominee for the 2023 ACE student award,” concluded Johnson.
Angelina Cole, Greenbelt Elementary
Angelina is a leader of Greenbelt Elementary School’s outstanding fifth grade class. Staff report that Angelina is always willing to help others and is a kind, strong advocate for other students. She was praised as a good role model and is a prudent decision-maker during group conflicts. Angelina also serves as one of the school’s safety patrols and works extremely well with younger students.
Muhammed Hassan, Greenbelt Elementary
Muhammed Hassan has a GPA of 3.96. He is a school safety patrol, part of the five-member Greenbelt Elementary School Science Bowl Team that recently made it to the quarterfinals and is an exemplary student role model. When his bus arrives in a timely fashion, he assists in the Morning Announcement room. Teachers describe him as “always participating and willing to help others” and one who expends “so much effort to do his work.” He “asks great clarifying questions and loves a good challenge,” said another teacher. One of his best attributes is his eagerness to assist and he often goes out of his way to do so, reported Johnson. “He is a positive individual and one that all of Greenbelt can be proud of knowing.”
Lien Wheeler Gareri, Dora Kennedy French Immersion
Lien Gareri is a highly successful and driven student at Dora Kennedy French Immersion, reported ACE’s Chair Janet Mirsky. She is a 4.0 GPA student and a violinist of five years, having obtained the prestigious title of First Chair, is fluent in French and also able to speak Russian, shared Mirsky. Lien enjoys providing community service through the RUAK-Porch food donation program and Girl Scouts, in which she has obtained the high status of cadet. Lien says she strives to do the best in all endeavors because it makes her feel good about herself and also it is a way to pay back her parents for the continuous love and support they have provided. She has been accepted into Eleanor Roosevelt’s Science and Tech program for next year, and after high school she hopes to attend the University of Maryland. Her hobbies include playing soccer, drawing and martial arts. “Dora Kennedy French Immersion salutes Lien and identifies her as a model student that all of our Greenbelt community can be proud of knowing,” said Mirsky.
Irene Sirleaf, Dora Kennedy French Immersion
“lrene Sirleaf is a determined and focused student who lives by the phrase, ‘You only live life once, so make sure you live it to the fullest,’” said Mirsky. At Dora Kennedy French Immersion, she is a member of the environmental club, National Junior Honor Society and Student Council. She boasts an impressive 3.4 GPA. She is fluent in French, able to speak Russian and is a proficient five-year violinist. Outside of school, Irene enjoys lessons in dancing and tennis and participating in the Civic Voices program. A future entrepreneur, Irene has taken up bracelet making, a skill that she would hope to transition into a business. She gives credit to her proud Liberian heritage and to her heroes, her parents, for providing her with the support and foundation for her success. Irene intends to go to Eleanor Roosevelt High School and hopes to go on to study law, with the goal of becoming a criminal investigator, partly due to her mild obsession with crime investigation television shows.
Nkeng “Mercy” Taxi, Greenbelt Middle
Mercy has continuously excelled in school, reported Stephenie Arcido. Her teachers describe her as an avid thinker during discussions, whose writing is well-thought-out and who is eager to learn. She is also involved with community service as a member of a religious school, including providing food services to families in need. “Mercy is the exemplar of a Greenbelt Ace Award Student,” reported Arcido.
Mamadou Ba, Greenbelt Middle
Mamadou Ba is an honor roll student described by teachers as eager to learn and always inquisitive. He provides rich discussions and classroom experiences, they reported. In his free time, Mamadou loves to play sports. He is also a member of a religious community that provides service to families in need each week. “Mamadou represents Greenbelt Middle School very well in being an ACE Recipient,” read Arcido.
ACE Awardees, Scholarship Winners
ACE’s Treasurer, Jenni Pompi presented ACE Awards to two students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) who also received college scholarships of $2,500 each.
Joy Victoria Reider, ERHS
Joy is in the Capstone program at ERHS, a pilot program jointly sponsored by the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program and Cambridge International Examinations. She has maintained a 4.02 GPA over the last six semesters and will have completed five AP courses by the end of the school year. Joy has also worked as a summer camp counselor with young children, assisting teachers and campers, and interacting with parents and campers. As business manager of the school newspaper, she develops fundraisers to aid in its printing and distribution. Journalism brought Joy out of her shell and made her more of an extrovert. She hopes to go on to study journalism in college.
As a mentor to Rising Raiders she helps them to navigate ninth grade and provides an opportunity for them to work on problem-solving and interpersonal and critical-thinking skills. Joy has also participated in the AEOP Gems Program (Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science), an Army-sponsored summer STEM enrichment program held in U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Engineering Centers. She is a member of the African Student Union, a member of the Class of 2023 Class Council Social Media Committee and a member of the choir. Joy would like to major in biology and become an orthopedic surgeon, as well as minor in journalism.
“We cannot fully convey all of Joy’s accomplishments but she is well-rounded and will be successful in whatever she pursues,” conveyed Pompi. “Joy Reider is an outstanding scholar of exemplary character whose intuitiveness and self-discipline will lead her to great success.”
“ACE is proud to present Joy Reider with a $2,500 educational scholarship in recognition of her accomplishments and to contribute to her future endeavors,” said Pompi.
Sara-Ricole Ferguson, ERHS
ACE presented the second scholarship to Sara-Ricole Ferguson. Sara-Ricole is a dedicated, intelligent and diligent student, well-liked by teachers and peers, shared Pompi. She is a young woman of exceptional intellect with a wide variety of talents and interests, who has maintained a 3.70 cumulative GPA over six semesters.
Sara-Ricole is a member of the National Honor Society, and has completed honors coursework in chemistry, English and pre-calculus, and AP coursework in environmental science.
She has volunteered for Harper’s Choice Community Association at Hope Christian Church with the church’s food drive, for Southern Bethany Church Food Giveaway and at Tabernacle of Glory Apostolic Church Hospitality. She is a member of the African Student Union, the Korean Club, the Do Something Club and an art entrepreneur who created and sold art pieces over summer break.
Sara-Ricole has been accepted to Alabama A&M where she plans to study corporate law and business management, as she aspires to run her own café.
ACE formed in 1994 with an updated charter in 2007. It serves as a link between the community and the city council to promote high quality schools for Greenbelt. ACE members are Janet Mirsky (chair), Korrie Johnson, Jennie Pompi (treasurer) and Robert Snyder. Colin Byrd is the ACE liaison on the city council and Liz Park is the city staff liaison.