Graduates of the Fairfax County Health Department’s Public Health Youth Ambassador Program were honored on Wednesday, March 1, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health at their headquarters in Rockville, MD.

Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health, RDML Felicia Collins, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., Director of the Office of Minority Health, Roslyn Holliday Moore, M.S., Deputy Director for Programs of the Office of Minority Health, Sonsiere Cobb-Souza, Division Director for Program Operations of the Office of Minority Health, and Rashmita Subedi, Project Officer, Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, each shared remarks and recognition with the students.

“We need to note the amazing strength, resilience, and power of young people today. Young adults play a critical role in creating a better future for all of us,” said Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D.

Three Fairfax County’s student attendees were brought on stage to participate in a panel discussion with Admiral Levine, who thanked them with commemorative coins that read, “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compassion.” All graduates received congratulatory certificates from RDML Collins and Deputy Director Moore.

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. Upon completion, ambassadors receive a certificate of completion from Morehouse School of Medicine’s High School Community Health Worker Program, a scholarship, and a laptop. Students keep the medical supplies they received as part of their training.

23 Additional Fairfax County High School Students Graduate from Ambassador Program

The Fairfax County Health Department honored 23 Public Health Youth Ambassadors during a graduation ceremony at Justice High School, Falls Church, on Saturday, February 25. The new graduates join 14 previous program graduates; all 37 graduates attended Wednesday’s recognition at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health headquarters.

“The work you have done that we celebrate today will pay dividends to your future,” said Anthony J. Mingo, Sr., Director, Community Health Development, Fairfax County Health Department.

The ceremony’s keynote address was provided by Dr. Tonya Adkins, CEO of HealthWorks of Northern Virginia.

February 2023 Public Health Youth Ambassador Graduates

Nanci Bernal Aguirre, Justice High School
Omar Gabriel Lorenzo Alvarez, West Springfield High School 
Vivian Araia, Justice High School 
Diana Vargas Avila, Justice High School 
Ashley Luna Cerrato, Justice High School 
Mary Coimbra, Justice High School 
Selam Demeke, Justice High School 
Makeda Endalkachew, Justice High School 
Mariamawit Ezechiel, Annandale High School 
Yeabsra Guetachew, Justice High School 
Marilyn Aguilon Gomez, Justice High School
Keilin Gutierrez, Justice High School 
Janet Arana-Hoyos, Justice High School
 Delina Iyob, Justice High School 
Yalda Jimenez, Justice High School
Rubi Medrano, Justice High School 
Aisha Hussein Osman, Justice High School 
Bianca Rojas-Quinteros, Justice High School 
Mariamawit Shibabaw, Justice High School 
Hiwot Tadesse, Justice High School 
Janeth Morales Trejo, Justice High School 
Winta Yemane, Justice High School 
Ingrid Zurita, Justice High School

About the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program

The Public Health Youth Ambassador program trains local Fairfax County high school students as public health workers. Upon completion, Ambassadors receive a certificate of completion from Morehouse School of Medicine’s High School Community Health Worker Program, a scholarship, and a laptop. Students keep the medical supplies they received as part of their training. The program is made possible through a $3.875 million award to the Fairfax County Health Department from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH). Stronger Partnership, Stronger Community: Using Health Literacy to Increase Resilience (Stronger²) member Edu-Futuro serves as the implementation partner of the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program. For more information including enrollment, please visit the website.