ACHS student wins full-ride Posse Scholarship; student reps unveil new student committee
Christopher Cabrera among 61 scholars selected from more than 1,100 D.C.-area applicants
An Alexandria City High School student has won a prestigious full-ride college scholarship, one of several achievements highlighted by student representatives during the Alexandria City School Board meeting Thursday evening.
Darwin Flores Salazar, one of three student representatives to the board, announced that Christopher Cabrera was selected as one of 61 scholars to receive the Posse Scholarship.
“Only 61 students out of the more than 1,100 applicants across the D.C. region won the scholarship,” Flores Salazar said.
Cabrera was matched with Bucknell University and was honored at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C.
The Posse Foundation, founded in 1989, identifies students with leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Posse Scholars graduate at a rate of 90 percent, and the foundation’s 65 partner colleges and universities have awarded more than $2.45 billion in scholarships to date. More than 14,000 scholars have been selected since the program’s inception.
The program received national recognition in 2010 when President Barack Obama awarded a portion of his Nobel Prize funds to the foundation.
New student committee to launch
Salma Naqshbandi, representing the International Academy, announced the official launch of the ACHS Student Committee in the coming weeks. The initiative aims to create a platform for students to voice their concerns to school and board leadership.
“Student representatives are taking the lead in creating a dedicated space, a safe platform for students’ needs and concerns,” Naqshbandi said. “This initiative is designed to build a crucial bridge between students to effectively voice their opinions within both the school community and also board community.”
The committee’s mission emphasizes empowering students from diverse backgrounds to share perspectives and collaborate with school leaders on policies and student experiences.
Advocacy and civic engagement
Madesen Lynch, the third student representative, announced that Titan’s Demand Action will travel to the Virginia Capitol in Richmond on Jan. 22 for Advocacy Day, where students will meet with state legislators to advocate for gun safety legislation.
“This event gives students a meaningful chance to engage with their lawmakers, advocate for their beliefs and contribute to civic change,” Lynch said.
Flores Salazar announced a student town hall scheduled for Friday in the rotunda at the King Street campus featuring school board member Abdulahi Abdalla and City Council member Kenneth Garrett.
History and social justice programming
Lynch highlighted a field trip on Saturday to the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum for the Banned Truth Tour of Alexandria. The tour explores the city’s Civil War and Reconstruction era history, including the role of Black churches and the work of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
Arts and culture
Naqshbandi announced a poetry slam on Jan. 15 at the King Street Auditorium, where International Academy students will share their personal journeys to the United States through poetry. She thanked teachers Jacqueline Rice and Javita Gill for organizing the event.
Flores Salazar recognized student artist Ariana Spiritu, whose original play will be showcased Friday and Saturday as part of the theater department’s one-act showcase. Tickets are $5.
The Black Student Union is seeking student volunteers for an upcoming showcase featuring poems, dances and one-acts, with rehearsals beginning the last week of January.
College and career preparation
Lynch reported on an AVID alumni guest speaker event held Thursday at the Minnie Howard Forum. Speakers, including former student representative Znap, discussed topics such as campus safety and college selection.
“One memorable piece of advice shared during the event was rejection is just redirection,” Lynch said.
The representatives also highlighted the Cornerstone Craftsman program, a partnership with Mode for Architecture and Thorsen Construction. Students recently visited a construction site in Del Ray to gain firsthand experience and speak with professionals in the field.
Naqshbandi and Lynch reminded students that the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria application deadline for eligible seniors is Tuesday.