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Student's success leads to public recognition
One scholar got to hobnob in celebrity circles
By Ashley Waith, CollegeBound Scholar
 My life since 2008 has been one big adventure. Who would have imagined that at age 16 I would be a college freshman in addition to a celebrity of sorts? Frustrated because of not gaining employment during the summer of 2007, I resolved to take control of my life in at least one direction: my education. It was then that I decided that I would accelerate high school and start my college career early. A forewarning came from my high school counselor that to accomplish this goal required successfully completing all state assessments, all junior and senior course work, ACT/SAT tests, and be accepted into a 2- or 4-year college. I met that challenge and on May 31, 2008 I graduated as valedictorian from National Academy Foundation High School with acceptance into eight Maryland colleges with phenomenal support from CollegeBound and another private foundation. The work ethic that had been instilled in me by my parents paid off!
From that point forward it's been one excitement after another. I started at Stevenson University in fall 2008, majoring in business administration. I've had an entrepreneurial drive for as long as I can remember, so this major is the perfect fit. I made the Dean's List both semesters of my freshman year. I am a member of Stevenson's chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, for business students, with a pending induction into Alpha Sigma Pi, a national leadership honor society. I also work part-time as an accounting aide, assist in a Bible education program, volunteer at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African-American History, and helped at CollegeBound's first annual Race for the Future.
I'm also privileged to be a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar, with Aramark (an award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel provider) as my corporate sponsor. Through the Jackie Robinson Foundation, I attended a four-day networking weekend in March in New York City and was able to attend the 2009 Annual ROBIE Awards Dinner hosted by Bill Cosby. Baseball teams from around the country gave special recognition to Jackie Robinson's achievement of dismantling the racial divide in sports. In April I was asked to do a publicity stint with the Baltimore Orioles. I was awarded a number 42 jersey, the number worn by Mr. Robinson. Outfielder Adam Jones and the Orioles Bird gave me a warm reception and a high-five at home plate, pre-game. Without the support of organizations such as CollegeBound, I wouldn't be having these amazing experiences to share. Wonder of wonders: I'm a college student rubbing shoulders with celebrities!
Ashley Waith will begin her sophomore year at Stevenson University this fall. She has a cumulative GPA of 3.62 and is setting her sights on graduating in 2011 instead of 2012 so that she can start a master's program in business and management at age 19. In addition to her CollegeBound grants, Ashley was also a 2008 recipient of the SHERO scholarship, MECU Merit and Service awards and the Baltimore Rotary scholarship.
Photo courtesy of Ashely Waith. |
Partner in service: Aaron Haslinger, photographer
Local photographer identifies with CollegeBound's mission
 Aaron Haslinger, photographer and owner of Primary Studios in Owings Mills, began his involvement with CollegeBound in 2004 when former Development Director Alisa Rock contacted him to photograph the Scholar of the Week video shoots and other CollegeBound events, including the Scholars' Luncheon. Mr. Haslinger agreed to work with CollegeBound because he connected with its mission. "Being involved with CollegeBound has been a very rewarding experience for me," he says. "The most amazing thing to me is how these kids, who are nearly half my age, are so hard-working and dedicated to achieving their goals. They do it in the face of incredible obstacles. To achieve in school is an accomplishment for any student, but when these kids do it in the tough environment they are in it is truly inspirational."  
Mr. Haslinger loves Baltimore and is glad that there are organizations like CollegeBound that work with youth. "These kids deserve the chance to make their own positive contributions to everything we have going on in our communities and it is really cool that CollegeBound helps them go to college so that they can do that in bigger and better ways."
Mr. Haslinger's services focus on wedding and event photography, but include portraiture, fine art and product photography as well. In addition he offers some other visual media related services including web design and videography.
Photos courtesy of Aaron Haslinger. | |
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