Congratulations! Big trip ahead for two Chief Sealth students

An announcement from the Seattle Public Schools communications team says two Chief Sealth High School students, Michelle Tran and Mohamed Mohamed, are heading for New York City to attend the National Academy Foundation‘s annual gala, along with four other students from the district. Read on to see what it’s all about:

The full news release from SPS:

Six students from Ballard, Chief Sealth, Franklin and Ingraham high schools have been selected to attend the National Academy Foundation’s Annual Gala in New York City on February 24-26, 2009. The prestigious event will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria, with a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra taking place at Carnegie Hall as part of the gala. Each student was recommended by their Academy teachers because of their leadership, academic success, and being highly involved in their programs.

The mission of Seattle Public Schools is to ensure that all students meet or exceed grade-level expectations and graduate from high school prepared for college, career, and life. Seattle Public Schools’ five-year strategic plan, Excellence for All, focuses on providing excellence in every classroom in every school. A key strategy of Excellence for All is to align curriculum across the District, with a focus on math and science.

“I want to congratulate these students for their hard work, their leadership and their outstanding accomplishments,” said Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. “Our academy programs challenge students to meet high academic standards in all subjects, including math and science, while equipping them with knowledge and skills that will serve them well in college, career and life. I also want to thank our Academy teachers – the success of these students is a testament to the importance of excellent instruction in every classroom.”

Students participating from Seattle Public Schools are: Rachel Dejneka, a junior at Ballard High School, Academy of Finance; Maureen Gray, a senior at Ingraham High School, Academy of Hospitality & Tourism; Dameon Johnson, a junior at Franklin High School, Academy of Finance; Mohamed Mohamed, a junior at Chief Sealth High School, Academy of Hospitality & Tourism ; Alexander Pham, a junior at Ingraham High School, Academy of Information Technology; and Michelle Tran, a junior at Chief Sealth High School, Academy of Finance.

Seattle Public Schools has National Academy Foundation (NAF) programs at Ballard, Franklin, Chief Sealth and Ingraham high schools. All NAF academies, Academy of Finance, Academy of Information Technology and Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, have a focus on math incorporated into their curriculum, including such classes as accounting, world of economics, international finance, computer programming, among others.

The National Academy Foundation (NAF) is an acclaimed network of high school career academies predominately based in urban districts with rigorous, career-themed curricula created with current industry and educational expertise. NAF builds partnerships between high schools and businesses to prepare students for post-secondary education and careers through a theme-based curriculum approach in finance, hospitality and tourism and information technology.
Academy Advisory Board members are making the trip possible with their generous donation of air miles and full payment for the hotel rooms.

Profiles of NAF Gala Event Attendees (from West Seattle):

Mohamed Mohamed
Chief Sealth High School, Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT), Junior

Mohamed entered the AOHT Academy as a junior, taking both the INTRO and the 11th grade classes to complete the requirements. He is one of the top students in the 11th grade AOHT Academy. He does his best and works to keep the students together as a group. He enthusiastically volunteered to attend the AOHT Advisory Board meeting, interacting with adults connected with the program. Alex always looks professional, presents himself well and is one of the more mature students in the program. His major interest and future plans revolve around the world of business.

Michelle Tran
Chief Sealth High School, Academy of Finance (AOHT), Junior

Michelle joined the Academy of Finance because business is one of her top options for majors in college. She felt the Academy would help her to learn more about the business world, its responsibilities, and also many financial tips that would benefit her decision making. Michelle is the 2010 junior class president and has been a part of the Associated Student Body leadership for the past two years. She is also an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, currently taking five IB classes. She was influenced by her sisters, both Academy graduates, to seriously consider pursuing a career in business.

2 Replies to "Congratulations! Big trip ahead for two Chief Sealth students"

  • jsrekd February 18, 2009 (8:08 pm)

    Congratulations to all the students – and a special “shout out” to the Sealth students, another great report from a great West Seattle High School! – a Sealth mom

  • Shepherd Siegel March 3, 2009 (7:56 am)

    Thank you for your coverage of the academy trip to the New York event for the National Academy Foundation. Academy students tend to complete high school and go on to college with a stronger sense of self and how to connect college to career development.

    Also, it was pretty exciting for the event and our Seattle students to make the society page of the New York Times on Sunday!

    Check out Alex – Academy of Info Tech, Ingraham; Dameon – Academy of Finance, Franklin; and Mohammed – Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, Chief Sealth – picture # 19

    Style Section, New York Times, March 1, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/02/27/fashion/01evening.ready.html?ref=fashion

    See right below “Farewell, February”

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