Four years ago Hagos Hagos was 14 and not overly excited about having to complete community service hours as part of the requirements to graduate from Benjamin Banneker High School. Assigned to work with elementary school children at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center in Northeast in an after school program, Hagos looked forward to the end of the project. “Honestly, I was just trying to fulfill my requirements,” he said.
Fast forward to May 28, 2013, that’s when Hagos and 11 other seniors representing D.C. Public and Charter High Schools were recognized for their commitment to community service, their academic achievement and leadership skills. Each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Comcast Foundation as part of its Leaders & Achievers program.
“I wrote my essay for this award about my community service experience,” said Hagos. “One of my teachers said he knew it came from my heart. At first I was an introvert with the kids but then I started to stand up and tell them they had to do their homework and study hard,” he said.