In order to fully experience the aftermath of the civil rights movement, five students from FNN were chosen to travel to Selma, Alabama for the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery. I am happy to say that I was one of those five. On the day of the trip, we all met at the airport and introduced ourselves. 

Today's adventure was tiring and exciting. Everybody woke up and met in the lobby at 6:30 this morning. We hit the road for an hour and 30 minute drive to Selma from Montgomery. We arrived at Ms. Kadesha’s on Leola N. Robertson Street to have breakfast with Mr. Jimmie Webb and some of his activist friends.

Click on this video by Brionna Wiggins to learn about a little-known fact about Bloody Sunday.

On Friday April 4, the Air and Space Museum started its National Robotics Week event. National Robotics Week is April 4-12. You need to check this event out. It has happened the last few years at the Air and Space Museum and is worth the trip. 

Another FNN Hall of Fame photographer, Darin Davis (FCA class of 2010), had a phone interview with me. It’s been about 5 years since I’ve heard from him. There is so much catching up to do.  

On April 14, 2015 they let the public ride the first 7000 series train as it pulled off from Franconia Springfield Metro Station around 7:17 am. The train was near full capacity after leaving Van Dorn Street Metro Station (the next stop). 

Marion Barry has influenced my life because he has made mistakes that I don't want to make. He  took his education seriously, and he has done a lot for our city. He was loved by his family and his voters. He was well respected by fellow politicians. Here is the reason why….

Time seems to be moving faster than expected.  Was it really that long ago, since Ceyanne was in middle school? Now, she’s currently studying philosophy, studio art and Asian Studies at Hanover College.

What a better role model than this? Someone who can take the ugliness of a tragedy and turn it into art. Frida Kahlo is one of the world’s greatest artists and was most known for her self portraits. Her work was original and very odd, but it held strong feelings and memories. She was celebrated in Mexico City as a native artist and has been an inspiration to women worldwide.

I can’t help but smile when I see a fellow alum progressing so well at one the of the most famous HBCUs, Howard University.  It seems like just yesterday she was one of the middle school students writing fiction for Rated-T. Nadean is currently studying to be an chemical engineer. She is planning to pursue a career in biopharmaceuticals. 

By Kamaya Speight, Hanifah Idowu, Xavier Womack, Ka’mya Holmes, Todd Hamilton, Jr. and Halimah Idowu

On February 26, 2015 we did a black history project. Our class went to other classes and presented our project so that children can learn about people before us, back in the day. The people before us are important and because of them we have freedom. Our class became those historical people for that day. 

Instead of waking up in the morning texting about what you are wearing to school or catching up on the latest gossip, teens are thinking about doing something even more exciting...SNAPCHAT!  Well, what’s Snapchat? Snapchat is a photo messaging app created by three Stanford University students. Using this app allows teens to communicate...

For some time now, there have been many complaints about school lunch. I say, “What’s all the fuss really about?”  If you don’t like what they are serving, then pack your own lunch at home and eat what you like. But, to be honest, many kids don’t have it like that. Their parents are sending them to school to learn and be served a breakfast and lunch daily.

On Tuesday February 24, 2015, Friendship Collegiate Academy had its first semester awards ceremony. It took place in the auditorium at 6 pm. In order to get an award, students had to get a 3.0 GPA or higher. The ceremony was run by Mr. Christian Schaefer and Ms. Cherice Greene.

Fresh out of Friendship Collegiate Academy, Ja-len returned to Alumni Day to share his first semester experience with current students.

I chose to write about Stuart Scott because I never knew that an anchor or sportscaster can be so iconic and influential in people’s lives.

One of the best super bowl commercials of 2015 was “Like a Girl” by Procter & Gamble for Always. The hashtag was #LikeAGirl and as of this writing the video on YouTube has over eighty million views.

 I’ve known Marcus and his family ever since we were at Benning Elementary School. It warms my heart to see how much he has grown over the years. Marcus thrived as part of FCA’s Robotics Team. After high school, he went to Northern Virginia Community College for a year and completed the Year-Up program. Marcus’s career is starting to blast off.

Reishad Jessup is the ideal role model for all the young men at Friendship Collegiate Academy.  He was in almost all school clubs, football player, class president and the list goes on. With all this on his plate, he still managed to win the Achievers and Posse Scholarship, as well as rank number three in his class.