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The Southern Maryland Chronicle
When News Matters, It Matters Where You Get Your News.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Five Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) seniors earned prestigious recognition as Dell Scholars on March 26, 2025, securing $20,000 scholarships from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Aliya Downs, Jaden Gaddi, and Brittany Gonzalez from North County High School, Cheyenne Ponder from Glen Burnie High School, and Jax Payan-Hansen from Southern High School were honored for their determination and academic perseverance. Each award includes a laptop and printer, bolstering their pursuit of higher education.
The students, all participants in AACPS’ Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, exemplify the initiative’s mission to support those in the “academic middle” by preparing them for college through career and college exploration. AVID, a national program implemented across AACPS’s 126 schools, fosters skills for success among students who might otherwise face barriers, according to the district’s official website.
The Dell Scholars Program, launched in 2004, prioritizes a student’s resolve over traditional metrics like test scores. It evaluates applicants on their drive to succeed, future aspirations, and ability to tackle rigorous coursework. “Dell Scholars are students who demonstrate their desire and ability to overcome barriers and to achieve their goals,” the foundation states on its website. For these five seniors, the recognition reflects years of effort to navigate personal and academic challenges.
Each scholarship provides $20,000 to support post-secondary studies over six years, alongside technology, mentoring, and access to a private scholar networking community. This comprehensive support aims to ensure recipients, like Downs, Gaddi, Gonzalez, Ponder, and Payan-Hansen, complete their degrees. The foundation has awarded over 5,000 scholarships since its inception, with a focus on empowering students to adapt to a changing world, per its mission.
The achievement underscores AACPS’s commitment to fostering resilience and opportunity. Superintendent Mark Bedell, in his 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, emphasizes creating environments where every student can “belong, grow, and succeed,” a vision these scholars embody. Their success adds to a legacy of Dell Scholars from AACPS, including three recipients in 2022 from North County, Southern, and Broadneck high schools, as reported by WMAR-2 News.
As the students prepare for college, their awards highlight not just individual triumph but the broader impact of programs like AVID, which has operated in AACPS since the early 2000s.
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David M. Higgins II is an award-winning journalist passionate about uncovering the truth and telling compelling stories. Born in Baltimore and raised in Southern Maryland, he has lived in several East… More by David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor
The Southern Maryland Chronicle(SoMDC) is an all-digital news source for SoMD. We cover all of Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties; along with the Southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s County. SoMDC covers every aspect of the SoMD Region and will continue to grow with the community. SoMDC appreciates all feedback from the community, along with tips, pictures, articles contributed, and support.
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