WUSA: 10 DC students surprised with full ride to George Washington University

Read the full article below and at WUSA’s website.

10 DC students surprised with full ride to George Washington University

By Michael Quander
March 22, 2017

An Eastern High School senior is one of 10 D.C. students being surprised on Wednesday with a full scholarship to George Washington University.

Adonte Yearwood moved to the District from the Virgin Islands two years ago and has plans to work in the criminal justice field.

The driven young man lost his father to gun violence, which has given him a stronger desire to succeed in life.Yearwood’s mother told WUSA9 that her son was concerned about how he is going to pay for GW’s pricey tuition.

Well, he does not have to worry about that anymore.

Congrats, Adonte!

Adonte was only one of the 10 students with incredible stories who received full ride scholarships. Read some of their stories below.

  • Cherisse Hayes of Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Ward 1) is an aspiring journalist. She is class treasurer, a student contributor at ShareAmerica.gov and has interned for the D.C. Superior Court of Appeals as a junior deputy clerk.
  • Lorrin Davis of Columbia Heights Education Campus (Ward 1) is interested in studying international affairs to pursue her dream of working as a Foreign Service officer. She participated in former first lady Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn program and conducted a case study on the Syrian refugee crisis.
  • Ana Lopez of Columbia Heights Education Campus (Ward 1) first learned English at age 13 when she moved to D.C. and joined her mom who had left their home country when Ana was a baby. She will be the first member of her family to attend college.
  • Sydney Austin of National Cathedral School (Ward 3) is captain of her soccer team and editor of the school newspaper. She aspires to be an archaeologist.
  • William Davis of Woodrow Wilson High School (Ward 3) has volunteered with multiple D.C. programs including City CPR, the Lowell School and the Capital Area Food Bank. His internship with the Urban Alliance at the World Bank solidified his choice to major in business and pursue a career in finance.
  • Jenesis Duran of Washington Latin Public Charter School (Ward 4) is captain of her soccer team, school secretary and treasurer and involved in the League of United Latin American Citizens. She intends to study international relations.
  • Michael Degaga of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Ward 5) is expected to be the class valedictorian. He is the mechanical captain of the robotics team, a member of JROTC and hopes to turn his passion for aviation into a career and intends to major in mechanical engineering.
  • Emmoni Morrisey of McKinley Technology High School (Ward 5) is a graduate of the Cathedral Scholars program, a DCPS college summer enrichment and college preparatory program. She is captain of her school’s volleyball team and intends to major in business administration.
  • Adonte Yearwood of Eastern High School (Ward 6) moved to D.C. from the U.S. Virgin Islands in order to further his education. A member of JROTC and the baseball team, he intends to major in criminal justice and pursue a career in law enforcement.
  • Joel Escobar of Cesar Chavez – Parkside High School Campus (Ward 7) is a first generation student and is expected to graduate at the top of his class. He is captain of his school’s soccer team, and an advocate for victims of domestic abuse and plans to major in computer science.