44 Fairfax County High Schoolers Onboard to Potential Careers in Public Health
The Fairfax County Health Department, together with Edu-Futuro and Stronger2, honored 44 students from Justice and Mount Vernon High Schools, as they graduated from the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program on Saturday, June 10.
The ceremony was held at Mount Vernon High School’s Little Theater, in a room filled with toddlers, proud parents and grandparents, beautiful piano music and joy. Each of the program’s graduates received a certificate of completion from Morehouse School of Medicine’s High School Community Health Worker Program. Students heard inspiring testimonials from program participants, Adrian Temich from Justice, and Chris Tetteh from Mount Vernon, High Schools and a spoken word performance by Benny Herron. An energetic rap artist, Dumi Right, chanted “Meet me at the top. Nothing stands in my way; the top is where I’m headed.” Positivity, encouragement, and excitement filled the room.
In the nearby cafeteria, student poster displays highlighted student’s research programs on today’s real public health concerns, including teen motherhood resources, obesity prevention, hypertension, and disability visibility.
Jovon Rodgers, Principal of Mount Vernon High School addressed the students. “You’ve shown how brave you are; you give us hope for the future.” Principal of Justice High School, Tiffany Narcisse, said “I am so proud and honored to be here to congratulate you; you are making an impact on your entire school community; it does not go unnoticed.”
The keynote commencement address was delivered by Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill who shared the personal stories from his youth with the graduates and said, “Education is the key to success and the key to achieving your dreams. We are so very proud of how far you’ve come and that you are taking advantage of this opportunity; we want to see you in the years to come and how far your soar.”
A total of 85 students have graduated from the program in the 2022-2023 school year.
Summer 2023 Public Health Youth Ambassador Graduates
MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL
Abigail Lefevre
Allison Rivera
Anna Olivares-Diaz
Anthony Thompson
Charity Boateng
Chris Tetteh
Deborah Olorode
Emily Gonzalez
Evelyn Achiaa
Franklin Granados
George Ofori
Haithem Salmi
Ivy Ayala
Jennifer Villalobos-Saenz
Kimberly Ovando
Kimberly O. Gonzalez Rodriguez
Lynette Adjei
Makayla Adams
Marlyn Benitez
Mary Acheampong
Mia Johanna Ramirez-Cruz
Nakiah Morris
Priscila Yeboan
Sandra Oteng-Agyei
Sarahí García Romero
JUSTICE HIGH SCHOOL
Adam Machkor
Adrian Montiel Temich
Amira Ibrahim
Belinda Lopez
Bemnet Daniel
Betzy Romero-Mendez
Cindy Claure
Dania Eldirdiri
Duaa Eldirdiri
Faiza Warsame
Gabriela Flores
Hani Mengesha
Joanna Guzman Arias
Joscelyn Jimenez
Meley Mesfin
Meron Arity
Michelle Abigail Jimenez Vargas
Nebah Adem
Nora Kenzi
Setti Hailu
Wehbe El Hadj Sidi
Yabesra Ewnetu
Watch the Public Health Youth Ambassador Graduation video.
Learn more about the Health Department’s Youth Ambassador Program.