Top high school seniors - African American students

Ebony, May, 1992 by Karima A. Haynes

THEY come from the nation's cities with the highest Black populations, where young people often become tangled in a debilitating web of gangs, drugs and poverty. Yet hundreds of uncommonly talented high school seniors in these cities are looking beyond their circumstances and catching a glimpse of a promising future.

Among them are 23 young achievers who learned early on that studying hard, participating in extracurricular activities and becoming involved in their church and community are the best ways to avoid the pitfalls of urban living. All of the students on the following pages were recommended by local boards of education or school administrators and met two major criteria: near-perfect grade point averages and leadership potential.

Several of these students are finalists or semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship for Outstanding Negro Students competition. Others are members of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and are listed in Whos Who Among American High School Students.

But its not all work. These students can be found on soccer fields, baseball diamonds, outdoor tracks and tennis courts. Other are flag girls and cheerleaders who root for the home team form the sidelines.

These students are invloved in the arts as well. One student wrote and original play that was performed by a Baltimore theater group and still another won the highly competitive LincolnDouglas national debate competition.

Compassion is a trait that runs deep in this group of future leaders. They collect canned goods for the hungry, visit nursing home residents and take part in youth outreach ministries.

And this fall, they plan to take their seats in freshmen classes at historically Black colleges and universities as well as Ivy League institutions.

These promising high school students, like so many of their peers, are bright, determined and ready to make their mark in the world.