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He fled to the U.S. for political asylum. Two years later, he won a full-ride to GWU He fled to the U.S. for political asylum. Two years later, he won a full-ride to GWU
(about 1 hour later)
Mikias Gebremeskel stood in a public spot in Ethiopia’s capital city handing out anti-government flyers to those who passed by. Two police officers approached the teenager, arrested him, and then beat and battered him with their batons while he sat in prison for five days. Mikias Gebremeskel stood in a public spot in Ethiopia’s capital city handing out anti-government fliers to passersby. Two police officers approached the teenager, arrested him, and then, while he sat in prison for five days, beat him with their batons.
His uncle arranged to have Gebremeskel released, and in July 2014, he fled to the United States seeking political asylum. He moved to the nation’s capital, where his cousins lived, and enrolled as a junior at Roosevelt Senior High School in Petworth, one of the city’s lowest-performing high schools.His uncle arranged to have Gebremeskel released, and in July 2014, he fled to the United States seeking political asylum. He moved to the nation’s capital, where his cousins lived, and enrolled as a junior at Roosevelt Senior High School in Petworth, one of the city’s lowest-performing high schools.
Two years after his arrival in the country, Gebremeskel already has achieved one of the most challenging American dreams — he’ll be going to college, and for free. Two years after his arrival here, Gebremeskel already has achieved one of the most challenging American dreams: He’ll be going to college. For free.
On Thursday, George Washington University president Steven Knapp burst into Gebremeskel’s history class — with a number of school officials and the school’s mascot, George Washington, in tow — and surprised him with a full tuition scholarship to the D.C. university, which has a sticker price of more than $50,000 a year. On Thursday, George Washington University President Steven Knapp burst into Gebremeskel’s history class — with a number of school officials and the school’s mascot, George Washington, in tow — and surprised him with a full-tuition scholarship to the D.C. university, which has a sticker price of more than $50,000 a year.
“I’m shaking,” said Gebremeskel, 20, when he was presented with the scholarship in front of his cheering classmates. “My heart was bouncing so fast ... I can see my future now.” “I’m shaking,” Gebremeskel, 20, said when he was presented with the scholarship in front of his cheering classmates. “My heart was bouncing so fast. . . . I can see my future now.”
[On this prize patrol, a college acceptance][On this prize patrol, a college acceptance]
GW presented 10 D.C. high school students Thursday with full-rides as part of the university’s Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship Program. Knapp, who says this is his favorite day of the year, surprised each one of them at their schools. GWU presented 10 D.C. high school students with full rides as part of the university’s Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship Program on Thursday. Knapp, who says this is his favorite event of the year, surprised each of them at their schools.
“It’s very inspiring to the whole school,” Knapp said. “It’s not really just about the student getting the scholarship, but it sends a message to all the students in the District of Columbia that college is a possibility in their future.”“It’s very inspiring to the whole school,” Knapp said. “It’s not really just about the student getting the scholarship, but it sends a message to all the students in the District of Columbia that college is a possibility in their future.”
And at least a few of the high schoolers were dabbing their eyes as Gebremeskel learned he would be going to college. And at least a few of the high school students were dabbing their eyes as Gebremeskel learned that he would be going to college.
“Oh my God, I want to cry. Why do I want to cry?” Rochelle Polanco, 18, repeatedly mumbled to her classmate while Knapp was presenting the scholarship. “He deserves it. He is so selfless. I’m not surprised.” “Oh my God, I want to cry. Why do I want to cry?” Rochelle Polanco, 18, repeatedly mumbled to a classmate as Knapp presented the scholarship award. “He deserves it. He is so selfless. I’m not surprised.”
Since GW established this scholarship more than 25 years ago, it has awarded it to more than 160 students. Ninety percent of participants graduate with a college degree, according to the university. Since the establishment of the scholarship more than 25 years ago, GWU has awarded it to more than 160 students. Ninety percent of participants graduate with a college degree, according to the university.
[Inside the admissions process at George Washington University][Inside the admissions process at George Washington University]
This year, the 10 recipients included immigrants from Ethi­o­pia, Bangladesh and Guatemala and they came from eight different city schools, including Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Bell Multicultural High School and Capital City Public Charter School. This year, the 10 recipients included immigrants from Ethi­o­pia, Bangladesh and Guatemala, and they came from eight city schools, including Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Bell Multicultural High School and Capital City Public Charter School.
Gebremeskel says he applied to more than a dozen colleges, but he plans to enroll at GW. He wrote in his college application essay that his father’s biggest dream was deferred when he was arrested before graduating high school, and that this changes everything. Gebremeskel says he applied to more than a dozen colleges and plans to enroll at GWU. In his college application essay, he said his father’s biggest dream was deferred when he was arrested before graduating from high school and that this changes everything.
“He was devastated, because his long-term plan of seeing me graduate from college and lead a decent life was in jeopardy,” wrote Gebremeskel, who strives to be a dentist. “To this day I remember the last two things he said to me before coming to America. He told me not to give up on my dreams no matter the obstacles I have to overcome and to start a new life without looking back.” “He was devastated, because his long-term plan of seeing me graduate from college and lead a decent life was in jeopardy,” wrote Gebremeskel, who strives to be a dentist. “To this day, I remember the last two things he said to me before coming to America. He told me not to give up on my dreams no matter the obstacles I have to overcome and to start a new life without looking back.”
[No test scores? No problem: Applications surge after GW goes test-optional][No test scores? No problem: Applications surge after GW goes test-optional]
Nkenge Cunningham — Gebremeskel’s English teacher— said he was a standout student as soon as he arrived at Roosevelt High. During his junior year, Gebremeskel was the first student in the school’s history to score a 2 out of 5 on the Advanced Placement Calculus exam. Nkenge Cunningham — Gebremeskel’s English teacher— said he was a standout student as soon as he arrived at Roosevelt High. During his junior year, Gebremeskel was the first student in the school’s history to score a 2 out of 5 on the Advanced Placement calculus exam.
“He has such an openness to learning. He asks questions. He’s not afraid to be criticized,” Cunningham said. “Whenever we have to connect texts to themes, he connects it so well to human experiences.”“He has such an openness to learning. He asks questions. He’s not afraid to be criticized,” Cunningham said. “Whenever we have to connect texts to themes, he connects it so well to human experiences.”
Gebremeskel said he is unsure if he will be living on campus next year. He currently lives in a basement apartment with his younger sister, who also attends Roosevelt and has three jobs to pay the bills. He doesn’t want to leave his sister, and says he likely will stay in his apartment. Gebremeskel said he is unsure whether he will live on campus next year. He lives in a basement apartment with his younger sister, who also attends Roosevelt and has three jobs to pay the bills. He doesn’t want to leave his sister and says he probably will stay in his apartment.
His sister, Hannah, and two cousins — who are both attending college — were all there when Knapp suprised him with the scholarship. His parents still live in Ethi­o­pia and didn’t know about the event. His sister, Hannah, and two cousins — who are both attending college — were all there when Knapp surprised him with the scholarship. His parents still live in Ethi­o­pia and didn’t know about the event.
Gebremeskel said he planned to call his parents as soon as the frenzy quieted down at school.Gebremeskel said he planned to call his parents as soon as the frenzy quieted down at school.
“I can’t wait to tell them,” he said.“I can’t wait to tell them,” he said.