Ebony's Academic Dream Team: high school superscholars have the right stuff

Ebony, August, 1998

W.E.B. DuBois called them the Talented Tenth. They re that gifted few who march down the difficult path toward greatness. They are achievers and leaders, blending sacrifice with determination to reach levels of success that make even the most skeptical of us pause. This year's group of talented high school seniors is steeped in that tradition. They are beautiful examples of the thousands of Black children who excel in our nation's schools.

Driven and dedicated, our superscholars shatter images of care-nothing students lost in a "me" generation. Instead, they find themselves as they give their service to others. While balancing the rigorous demands of college preparatory classes and after-school activities, they work as elementary school tutors, Sunday school teachers, hospital volunteers, peer mentors and soup-kitchen helpers. They teach their elders to use computers while picking up life lessons along the way.

Their dreams reveal as much about our future as theirs. Time and again, these students speak of pursuing careers that will help elevate the masses. They envision themselves as doctors, entrepreneurs, journalists, scientists, dancers, engineers--people with the power to move and motivate our bodies and our souls.

The 33 high school graduates featured on these pages are indeed an academic "dream team." They defy expectations as they spin through the air on their way to the top. Perhaps their biggest challenges lie ahead as they enter college and then the world of work. But, as shown here, they already have proven they have the stuff to excel in the course called life.

Jeremy Sullivan (left), a National Achievement and National Honor Society Scholar, graduated from New York's Staten Island Technical High School, where he maintained a 93.8 GPA. The future biologist, who was cited in Who's Who Among American High School Students, received a Macy's Minorities in Medicine Award and Toshiba Science Expo Award. While in school, Sullivan worked after school as a lab assistant and as a peer educator on AIDS Prevention for the Staten Island AIDS Youth Task Force.

Raeshell Sharawn Wilson (bottom left), who held a perfect 4.0 average and is a National Achievement Scholarship finalist and Coca-Cola Scholarship finalist, was salutatorian of the senior class at Nashville's Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School. This scholar/athlete played varsity basketball and ran track for four years while participating in student government and helping her peers prepare for the SAT. She plans to study economics and business at Vanderbilt University.

LaReese Kortora Thomas (right) was valedictorian at Southside Comprehensive High School in Atlanta. He won some of his school's top awards in both academics and sports, earning the highest GPA award for three consecutive years and the top defensive back award for his football skills. A frequent volunteer for the Task Force for the Homeless, school causes and a local library, he plans to attend Morris Brown College on a full scholarship.

Maleka I. Donalson (above), valedictorian at Columbus Alternative High School in Columbus, Ohio, will study biochemistry at Harvard University. The future pediatrician is a Ron Brown and National Achievement Scholar: She was senior class president, secretary-treasurer of the student senate,a yearbook staff member and a Sunday school teaching assistant.

Shelley Waite (right), a National Merit and Achievement Scholar. graduated from Chicago's Lincoln Park High School, where she held a 5.14 GPA. The key club member, who was also a member of the merit music program, played viola in the String Ensemble. After school, she tutored peers and taught senior citizens to use computers. Waite will study neuroscience at Harvard University.

Kerwin S. Speight (right) of Washington, D.C., was valedictorian of the Academy of Finance & Business, Howard Dilworth Woodson Senior High School. Speight is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students and had perfect school attendance. He was president of the student government, business manager of the National Honor Society and founder/editor of "The Academy Informer." Speight, who has worked after school at local television stations since ninth grade, will study broadcast journalism at American University.

Ashli Shantia Phillips and Ashante Marvia Dobbs (above from l. to r.), co-valedictorians at Atlanta's Frederick Douglass High School, have a lot in common. Phillips, who is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students and has won awards from Kodak, Harvard and the U.S. Army, has more than $150,000 in scholarship offers. Dobbs, a Coca-Cola, Target, MCI International and All-American Scholar; netted more than $1.5 million in college scholarship offers's. Phillips, former vice president of the student government and co-captain of the drill team, is president and secretary of a local GM Scout troop and a tutor for an elementary school. Dobbs, former school newspaper editor and president of the mass communications club, volunteers at a children's hospital. Both plan to study science--Phillips (biology) and Dobbs (microbiology).