Two students from Frank W. Ballou Senior High School and two
students from the school's Math-Science Academy, Washington DC,
have received the 1996 Annual Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-Frank
W. Ballou Senior High School Award for Personal Excellence.
This year's winners are Rasheeda
Allen, math category and Erika Gregory, science category, Ballou
Senior High School; and Haniyyah Ludd, math category and Lena
Gamble, science category, Ballou Math-Science Academy.
The Personal Excellence Award
was established at Ballou Senior High School through NRL's Community
Outreach Program, to recognize sustained achievement in math
and science, citizenship and interpersonal skills. Ballou is
one of NRL's partner schools in Washington DC.
Ms. Allen, who is a freshman,
was recognized for her "display of ambition, maturity and
perseverance." Out of a class of 16 geometry students, she
was the only one to earn an "A" for the course. Her
school activities include: memberships of both the marching and
concert bands and the varsity softball team. Her achievements
include: recipient of the school's Outstanding Student Award
and the National Science Award of Merit. She is on the school's
honor roll for her scholastic achievements.
Ms. Gregory, who is a senior,
was recognized for her scholastic accomplishments during the
school year. Her first-rate entries in local science fairs spanned
from chemistry to engineering and robotics. She is a member of
the National Honor Society, and, as her science teacher, Mr.
C. Grimm says, "She is a great student."
Ms. Ludd, who is a senior in
the Ballou Math-Science Academy, was recognized for her high
achievements in mathematics, which led to her winning five certificates
of achievement from the Math, Engineering, Science Association
(MESA). She was the academy's Student of the Month, last January.
Ms. Ludd was the recipient of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth
Award, which included an $8,000 scholarship from Randolph-Macon
Womens's College. She is also the recipient of the Iota Phi Lambda
Sorority Scholarship, for academic and personal excellence.
Ms. Gamble, who is a junior at
the Ballou Math-Science Academy, was recognized for her scholastic
achievements especially by increasing her total SAT score from
1200 to 1280, during the past eight months. She cares about the
achievements
of her classmates. She assists other students in preparing for
their PSAT/SAT exams, while at the same time, attends after school
preparatory SAT programs herself on a daily basis. Ms. Gamble
was selected to participate in the Metropolitan Role Models Leaders
Program, which is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education.
A gifted orator, she is a finalist in the Washington Gas Light
Oratorical Contest. According to Dr. Mary Johnson, Director,
at the Math Science Academy, "Lena is an outstanding student
who is presently selecting her project as a part of a mentorship
at the Howard University Cancer Research Center, under the direction
of Dr. L. Campbell.
CAPT Raymond E. Leonard, USN,
NRL's Chief Staff Officer, presented each student with a certificate
of achievement. In addition to the certificate, each winner received
a scientific calculator courtesy of NRL's outreach program partner,
Lambda Beta Sigma Sorority, Inc. The sorority comprises Ballou
High School alumni, who support student enhancement and other
programs in the local community.
The ceremony concluded with a
student tour of several NRL research areas.
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