"The halls of Wakefield are filled with seas of color: black, white, every shade in between, and everyone peacefully coexists - I couldn't imagine it any other way. I live in a community that is only a step away from a world without prejudices. I hope to continue this life at University and be able to then share the ideas of such an environment in all of the places that I go."
- A Wakefield 2011 graduate
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
See photo at http://arlington.k12.va.us/Domain/2021

Only a step away from a world without prejudices

May 27, 2011 -- The quote above was taken from the application of one of this year's Wakefield High School Education Foundation scholars. It was in response to a question about what lessons were learned at Wakefield. A statement like that explains why Wakefield High school is considered so exceptional.

A foundation for a public high school funded by alumni, staff and friends is also exceptional. But Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., and its students and staff are extraordinary. That is evident by the fact that the Secretary of Education chose Wakefield for his first school visit and that President Obama has visited the school twice. The Wakefield High School Education Foundation was founded in 1986. As it ends its 25^th year, it has given away $1,238,169.00 in scholarships and teacher grants to 244 Wakefield scholars. All of the work of the Foundation is done by volunteers. Traditionally 100% of all the funds raised each year is given. The funds come from all over the world in small and large amounts. Some of the donors have made a contribution each of twenty-five years of the foundation's existence.

In the Wakefield student body, being selected as a Wakefield Scholar is considered a great honor. This year there were 65 applicants. The scholarship applications are reviewed by a group of alumni who evaluate each student on their academic success, school involvement, community activities, financial need and how they will represent Wakefield (among other things). The scholars from the class of 2011 and the schools they will be attending in the fall are listed below.

The 2011 Wakefield Scholars are:
Jorge Acevedo (Louise Gabel Scholar) - Moravian College
Muntaser Ahmed (Jane Coe Stoker '56 Scholar) - University of Virginia
Mariam Amarir (Jane Coe Stoker '56 Scholar) - George Mason University
Sha'von Beale - Virginia Commonwealth University
Cordie Campbell - College of William and Mary
Lilia Cherchari - Columbia University
Yogesh Dhakal (Claude Moore Foundation Scholar) - Old Dominion University
Marcus Evans - Northern Virginia Community College
Kenneth Giles (Duques Family Foundation Scholar) - Virginia Commonwealth University
Rosemary Girard - James Madison University
Lond iGuerra - College of William and Mary
Vanessa Isip - Northern Virginia Community College
Jame' Jackson - Howard University Meron Kebede- Virginia Polytechnic University
Tushig Khangal (Duques Family Foundation Scholar) - Indiana University
Elisabeth Laird (Al Tate '56 25th Year Scholar) - College of William and Mary
Adriana Lopez-Piper - College of William and Mary
Henry Morales - Northern Virginia Community College
Thomas O'Neil (Jim Jones '86 Scholar) - University of Virginia
Sharmila Pandiyaraju - Northern Virginia Community College
Jon Remedios (Gary Thompson Scholar) - Duke University
Tofique Sikder (Claude Moore Foundation Scholar) - Virginia Polytechnic University
Micheal Tesfahunegn - College of William and Mary
Nicholas Werner (Peter Arntson '56 Scholar) - University of Virginia
Yuan Zhai - Northern Virginia Community College

Contact: Conchita Mitchell - information@wakefieldalumni.org Providing Scholarships, Connecting Alumni, and Preserving the History of Wakefield Since 1986, the Wakefield High School Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non profit run entirely by volunteers, has raised donations from Wakefield alumni, staff and friends to provide scholarships to graduating Wakefield seniors. Traditionally, 100% of the funds raised each year are given in scholarships.