Meet Brook Mesfin. He is a senior at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, MD. Born in Alexandria, VA, both of his parents emigrated from Ethiopia. Brook is extremely active in high school and holds numerous Officer positions at his school’s STEM clubs, National Honor Societies and Debate Teams. He is also President of the Physics Club, Secretary of the Math Team where he has competed in many math competitions around his county and currently holds a position at Kumon - a learning center helping young students reach advanced levels in math and reading. Brook has also recently completed an internship at the Johns Hopkins University where he worked with graduate students focusing on polymer physics.

Meet Bamlak Messay. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she came to America in 2005 and currently attends Justice High School (formerly known as J.E.B. Stuart High School.) As the founder of the Future Medical Professionals Club at her school, Bamlak has also founded the Science National Honor Society chapter among other impressive clubs. She held several roles at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where she provides visitors concerted guidance to handle over 6000 specimen. In addition to her amazing track record, Bamlak has also been selected to take classes in Geosystems at university campuses for two consecutive years as part of a rigorous program. Hoping to pursue a field in human-related sciences such as anatomy, chemistry, and biology, she also enjoys reading, running, and learning new languages. She aspires to become a neurosurgeon and continually does research on cures for prevalent mental diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia.

Meet Bilen Essayas, a senior at McLean High School. She is Ethiopian and Eritrean, born here in the States currently living in Northern Virginia. As a member of her school’s Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and National Art Honor Society, this impressive young lady also serves as Chair of McLean’s Model United Nation’s club. Deeply rooted in her heritage, Bilen has also travelled to Ethiopia several times to stay connected with her culture. She has been a member of the Wegene Ethiopian Foundation for several years, where she now serves on the youth club’s executive board. Beyond these impressive accomplishments, Bilen has also spearheaded the mission of another nonprofit called Kids 2 Kids to encourage minorities to pursue careers in STEM. She somehow does all of these things while interning at a local hospice to fully immerse herself into the medical world. She’s a prolific musician having played the viola for over 7 years, a member of a couple of orchestras including The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras, where she has travelled to Germany to perform. Bilen will pursue a degree in either Biology or Chemistry to follow a pre-med track.

Meet Helen Hailu. She is currently a senior at Justice High School previously known as JEB Stuart. Helen lived in Ethiopia until the age of 11 before moving to Virginia to attend middle school in Falls Church. Helen is a hard working individual who loves to go above and beyond to excel in her education and help her community. She's been admitted to 30 OF THE BEST COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY, most of which offered her a full ride. They include Notre Dame, Georgetown, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins and so many others, AMASSING MILLIONS of dollars in scholarships. In school, Helen is pursuing the full IB Diploma and spends her time leading and participating in various community service activities. She is part of service clubs like Interact, Key Club, Ecology club & National Honor Society. She is hair of a committee in Ecology Club and has actively participated in numerous others. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Smithsonian National History of Natural Museum and also at MedStar Georgetown Hospital.

Meet Azarias Fida. Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he emigrated to the States just four years ago. He is a senior at Montgomery Blair High School. Having recently finished taking 5 AP classes, his tenacity and hard work earned him his school’s AP Scholar Award. Azarias serves as Vice President of Liberty's Promise, and is currently a member of National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Robotics, Chemathon and more. He also recently interned at Career Catchers working specifically in their data analysis department. Azarias will be the first in his family to attend college and plans to study Computer Science.

Meet Dinqissa Desta. He is a Senior at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD. Born in Washington D.C. from Ethiopian parents, this young man is not only an IB Diploma Candidate but also the founder his school’s Math Honors Society. In addition, Dinqissa is a member and holds leadership positions in Physics Club, Debate Team, National Honors Society, Science Honors Society, Environmental Club and many more. During his free time, he leads weekly tutoring sessions in Math and Science to help those who are struggling in the two subjects. Beyond these extensive involvements and accomplishments, Dinqissa is also a member of both the Varsity Track and Field and Cross Country teams where he served as captain early in the academic year. He is admitted to sooo many phenomenal institutions like Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins and many more.

Meet Nubia Teklu. She a senior at West Springfield High School and spends her time leading numerous extracurricular activities. She is the secretary of both the Black Student Union and Ethiopian and Eritrean Club. Her involvement in the Ethiopian community goes beyond school as she is also the president of the Wegene Youth Club, a subsection of the Wegene Ethiopian Foundation that conducts fundraisers to send destitute families to school and provide them with adequate housing in Ethiopia. In addition to this, she is a member of her school’s National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, History Honor Society, and more. She also has a passion for sports as she has played soccer for over nine years and is now training for her school’s tennis team.

Meet Ribka Tewelde, a senior at Yorktown High School. She emigrated from Eritrea with her family and currently resides in Arlington, Virginia. Since the start of high school, this impressive girl has designed, created and launched a campaign to effectively combat substance abuse and addiction among young people in Arlington. Ribka has been Secretary for her class for the past three years and also serves as Chair of Teen Network Club. Beyond these impressive efforts and accomplishments, Ribka has also taken initiative to tackle the disparity in representation and access among girls in the field of STEM. Her deep seated desire to empower women has earned her the position of President at STEM 4 Girls. She has led all of the girls involved to partake in international app building competitions to primarily help younger and disadvantaged women in developing countries. With an unwavering passion to help her people in Eritrea, Ribka is on a mission to address any infrastructural deficiencies that exist to maximize the country's potential

Meet Elshadai Melkam, a senior at West Springfield High School. Born here in the States, Elshadai spent a considerable amount of her childhood in Florida before settling in Virginia. She is EXTREMELY involved in a myriad of impressive clubs and organizations and served as Concertmaster-head of the orchestra, as youth ambassador for goPro21. She also served as 1st Chair Violinist for Symphonic and Philharmonic Orchestras, served as Co-Teacher for Sunday School at Immanuel Bible Church and served as Club Officer for West Springfield High School's Ethiopian and Eritrean club. Elshadai is also a member of the National Honors Society, National English Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, and Tri-M (Music Honors Society. She is an active member of a Student Demand Action Club and spent a considerable amount of her time leading a peer tutoring program to help students in Math, Science, Spanish, and History. Elshadai is also a writer for Emory University’s Urban Health Initiative.

Meet Agape Amanuel. She is a senior at West Springfield High School and a first-generation Ethiopian raised in Northern Virginia. Agape holds several leadership roles at her school: she is an officer of her school's National History Honor Society, Vice President of the Teens that Care About Cancer Club, serves as Student Ambassador and more. She has also won both district and regional theatre competitions and is recognized for her impeccable acting ability on stage. In the future, she hopes to study International Relations as well as the Arabic language with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies.