NEXTDC Scholars

Over $250,000 awarded

NEXTDC has awarded 153 scholarships and honorariums, including 30 repeat winners since 2015. Meet all of our scholars:

NEXTDC Scholarship

2026: Christian Acosta Padilla (CHEC*)
2026: Enrique Castillo (Coolidge HS)
2026: JohnTay Taylor (River Terrace EC)
2026: Kennedy Williams (River Terrace EC)
2026: Madelyn Torrez (CHEC)
2026: Shaymaa Juma (Cardozo EC)
2025: James Walton Jr. (Maya Angelou PCS)
2025: Jennifer Pineda-Arias (CHEC)
2025: JohnTay Taylor (River Terrace EC)
2025: Sydney Mabry (Jackson-Reed HS)
2024: Abide Kao (CHEC)
2024: Belinda Alcoser-Gonzalez (Jackson-Reed HS)
2024: John Thompson (Ballou HS)
2024: Kaleb Bland (Coolidge HS)
2024: Khalil Malloy (CHEC)
2024: Melany Mendez-Casas (Coolidge HS)
2024: Trevon Bernado (River Terrace EC)
2023: Francisco Hernandez-Pineda (CHEC)
2022: Damek Bennett (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2022: Kaiya Lewis (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2022: Antonio Newton (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2022: Anura Sharma (CHEC)
2022: Nana Sissoko (Jackson-Reed HS)
2021: Jazzmen Morant (Ballou HS)
2021: Anura Sharma (CHEC)
2020: Jermaine Evans (Wilson HS*)
2019: Deranique Graydon (Ballou HS)
2019: Diamond Hunter (Temple University; Wilson HS)
2019: Andre Jones (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2019: Jose Martinez (CHEC)
2019: Amya McKoy (Ballou HS)
2019: Britney Rivera- Martinez (Wilson HS)
2019: Loriel Taylor (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2018: Perpetua Nkem (CHEC)
2018: Sharnae Niblet (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2018: Lauren Bryana Brown (Wilson HS)
2018: Diamond Hunter (Wilson HS)
2017: Deranique Graydon (Ballou HS)
2017: Andre Jones (Maya Angelou PCHS)
2017: Zoe Michele Roberts (Wilson HS)
2016: D'andre Jones (Ballou HS)
2016: Natalie Webb (CHEC)
2016: Solijala Jones Morris (Wilson HS)
2015: Tyrell Keys (Hospitality HS)

NEXTDC Alumni Scholarship

2026: Ty Monroe (Wake Forest University; Coolidge HS)
2025: Belinda Alcoser Gonzalez (Montgomery College; Jackson-Reed HS)
2025: Mattison McDonald (Washington & Jefferson College; Coolidge HS)
2024: Jean-Pierre Roberts (Eastern Connecticut State University; Jackson-Reed HS)
2024: Mattison McDonald (Washington & Jefferson College; Coolidge HS)
2023: Cenaria Fells-Watson (Towson University; CHEC)
2022: Cenaria Fells-Watson (Towson University; CHEC)
2022: Britney Rivera-Martinez (Cornell University; Wilson HS)
2021: Pepetua Nkem (Morgan State University; CHEC)
2021: Britney Rivera-Martinez (Cornell University; Wilson HS)
2020: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS)
2019: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS)
2019: Diamond Hunter (Temple University; Wilson HS)
2018: Deranique Graydon (University of the District of Columbia; Ballou HS)

David Iselin Scholarship for Community Service

2026: Promise Parraway (Ballou HS)
2025: Adame Temesgen (CHEC)
2024: Adame Temesgen (CHEC)
2023: Jean-Pierre Roberts (Jackson-Reed HS)
2022: Jean-Pierre Roberts (Jackson-Reed HS)
2021: Jean-Pierre Roberts (Jackson-Reed HS)
2019: Adame Temesgen (CHEC)
2020: Adame Temesgen (CHEC)

Akira Wilson Memorial Scholarship for Entrepreneurship

2026: Matias Figueroa (Jackson-Reed HS)
2025: Leslie Galo-Valle (Jackson-Reed HS)
2024: Evelyn Consolla (Jackson-Reed HS)
2023: Jennifer Rivera-Martinez (Jackson-Reed HS)

Joe Shymanski Memorial Scholarship for Photography & Media

2026: Alana Hill (Ballou HS)
2025: Darren Heard Jr. (Ballou HS)
2024: Ty Monroe (Coolidge HS)

NEXTDC Honorariums

2026: Arrington Ward (Jackson-Reed HS)
2026: Brian Blanco (Coolidge HS)
2026: Bryan Montiel (CHEC)
2026: Darren Heard Jr (Ballou HS)
2026: Heydi Medina Ferman (Coolidge HS)
2026: Jade Stanback (Coolidge HS)
2026: Malijah Jackson (Ballou HS)
2026: Mattison McDonald (Coolidge HS)
2026: Maximus Carter (Ballou HS)
2026: Steven Diaz (CHEC)
2025: Adorre Fells-Watson (CHEC)
2025: Aaron Perkins (CHEC)
2025: Alana Hill (Ballou HS)
2025: Angeline Cherif (CHEC)
2025: Arrington Ward Jr. (Jackson-Reed HS)
2025: Azul Tiburcio (CHEC)
2025: Briseyda Siguenza Romero (CHEC)
2025: Brooklyn Trice Jr. (River Terrace EC)
2025: Bryan Montiel (CHEC)
2025: Cenaria Fells-Watson (CHEC)
2025: Christian Osborne (Ballou HS)
2025: Edina Young (Jackson-Reed HS)
2025: Haryiah Hunt (Ballou HS)
2025: Hasaan Coles (Ballou HS)
2025: Jade Stanback (Coolidge HS)
2025: Leslie Perez-Chavez (CHEC)
2025: Makayla Boller (River Terrace EC)
2025: Makayla Cruz (CHEC)
2025: Malijah Jackson (Ballou HS)
2025: Maricela Gutierrez (CHEC)
2025: Michael Johnson (Coolidge HS)
2025: Miriam Bezabih Tebebe (River Terrace EC)
2025: Mista Barnes (Coolidge HS)
2025: Rafael Ventura Juarez (CHEC)
2025: Shanda Eley (River Terrace EC)
2025: Wayne Jones Jr. (River Terrace EC)
2025: Zachary Songu-Mbriwa (Ballou HS)
2024: Akilah Hunter (CHEC)
2024: Antwon Gibson (River Terrace)
2024: Anya Blakney (Coolidge HS)
2024: Cailin Santos (River Terrace)
2024: Carmen Brito (Jackson-Reed HS)
2024: Cenaria Fells-Watson (CHEC)
2024: Charity Jones (Jackson-Reed)
2024: Darren Heard (Ballou HS)
2024: Hassan Purnell (Ballou HS)
2024: Jocelyn Salazar (CHEC)
2024: JohnTay Taylor (River Terrace)
2024: Kaden Johnson (Coolidge HS)
2024: K'nasia McKenzie (CHEC)
2024: Malcom Straker (River Terrace)
2024: Miram Bezabih (River Terrace)
2024: Nalisa Jacobs (Ballou HS)
2024: Saniya Lewis (Jackson-Reed HS)
2024: Saniyah Heyward (IDEA PCS)
2024: Tenielle Parker (CHEC)
2024: Treasure Brooks (Ballou HS)
2024: Zachary Songu-Mbriwa (Ballou HS)
2024: Aaron Perkins (CHEC)
2023: Abide Kao (CHEC)
2023: Milan Beverly (Coolidge HS)
2023: Orion Williams (Coolidge HS)
2021: Cenaria Fells-Watson (CHEC)
2021: Yeshetuwef Mulugeta (Wilson HS)
2020: Lauren Brown (Howard University; Wilson HS)
2020: Jose Martinez (Marymount University; CHEC)
2020: Amya McKoy (Bowie State; Ballou HS)
2020: Zoe Roberts (George Mason University; Wilson HS)
2019: Jose Martinez (CHEC)

Ray Bennett Memorial Scholarship for Leadership*

2025: Shamiyah McGee (Coolidge HS)
2024: DeAnna Mozee (Roosevelt HS)
2023: Mattison McDonald (Coolidge HS)

Gregory McCarthy Scholarship for Leadership*

2021: Tenielle Parker (CHEC)
2020: Makayla Cruz (CHEC)
2019: Zoe Roberts (Wilson HS)
2018: Daren Dorsey (Ballou HS)
2017: Johana Romero-Valdez (CHEC)
2016: Deranique Graydon (Ballou HS)
2015: Robsa Mideksa (Hospitality HS)
2014: Amanda Burnham (Hospitality HS)

Please note:

*CHEC = Columbia Heights Educational Campus

*In 2021, Wilson High School was renamed Jackson-Reed High School.

*The Gregory McCarthy Scholarship for Leadership was discontinued in 2022.

*The Ray Bennett Scholarship was discontinued in 2026.