14 Fairfax County High Schoolers Onboard to Potential Careers in Public Health 

The Fairfax County Health Department, together with Edu-Futuro and Stronger², honored 14 Fairfax County high school students as the inaugural graduates of the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program. 

The Public Health Youth Ambassador Program was created to help students who face additional barriers to achieving their higher education goals, which includes, students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S., English language learners, students who are economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities. 

During the graduation ceremony at John R. Lewis High School on December 17, fourteen graduates received a certificate of completion from Morehouse School of Medicine’s High School Community Health Worker Program, and a scholarship. Students also receive a laptop and keep the medical supplies they received as part of the curriculum.

“Public health needs you. We are cheering for you. Think about returning to your community and giving back to your community. Hold dear the flame in your heart that made you achieve this accomplishment, and allow it to feed you in your future,” said Anthony J. Mingo, Sr. division director, community health development, Fairfax County Health Department.

The keynote commencement address was delivered by Roslyn Holliday Moore, deputy director for programs, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional remarks were delivered by Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill, Health Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk, Edu-Futuro Executive Director Jorge Figueredo, Edu-Futuro Program Manager Andrea Scott, Assistant Principal of John R. Lewis High School Christopher Thompson, program graduate, Nayla Bonilla, and Ramon Gilberto Aguilar, who is a parent of one of the graduates.

Summer 2022 Public Health Youth Ambassador Graduates

Nayla Bonilla, Justice H.S.
Bithaniya Fieseha, West Springfield H.S.
Endurance Larbi, John R. Lewis H.S.
Allison Orozco de Paz, John R. Lewis H.S.

Fall 2022 Public Health Youth Ambassador Graduates

Amy Aguilar-Lopez, Chantilly H.S.
Aylen Amargo, John R. Lewis H.S.
Erika Cerritos, John R. Lewis H.S.
Katie Chavarria, John R. Lewis H.S.
Milcah Debas, John R. Lewis H.S.
Sarah Diriye, John R. Lewis H.S.
Camila Franco, John R. Lewis H.S.
Mailyn Hernandez, John R. Lewis H.S.
Alexandra Jarquin, John R. Lewis H.S.
Aryton Uriona, Falls Church H.S.

The graduates were required to complete a practicum that spanned classroom learning, at-home practicum, and community field projects.