Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Grants $150,000 to DC, VA and MD
Last week, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation granted $150,000 to charitable organizations in the DC metro area including the First Star Washington D.C. Academy.
Director’s Blog – October 2015
The First Star Greater Washington held its second monthly meeting of the 2015-2016 academic year at the Wells Fargo Bank Navy Yard Branch on Saturday, October 24th. FSGWA was grateful that Wells Fargo opened the bank on Saturday just for us. Together with Wells Fargo and the Sara Start Fund we presented a one of a kind Financial Literacy workshop that was engaging and helpful to our youth by focusing on everyday spending.
Director’s Blog – Astronomy Night at the White House – October, 2015
It was a very cold night looking at the stars on the White House front lawn. On Monday, October 19th, 2015, the First Star Greater Washington Academy was thrilled that 10 of our students were invited through DC CFSA to the White House! The President welcomed everyone for an evening of learning and space exploration as part of his advocacy for STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). A couple of our students were honored to shake President Obama’s hand and exchange greetings after his speech. A life event that will never be forgotten.
First Star Joins Brief Involving Fragile Individual in Maryland
First Star joined a brief in a Maryland case involving an individual who is extraordinarily fragile and who is likely to lose his life if he does not receive round-the-clock skilled nursing care. Numerous disabled children in Maryland and elsewhere face dramatic changes in their living situations, including loss of access to necessary medical care, [...]
First Star Greater Washington Academy Closing Ceremony 2015 Highlights
The closing ceremonies of the First Star Greater Washington Academy summer immersion program took place on the campus of George Washington University in front of friends, family, volunteers, supporters, staff and students. Students in the First Star foster youth program receive real college credit for classes completed during this intensive four week session. Video produced [...]
The FSGWA Talent Show – July 2015
Watch the talented students and staff of First Star Greater Washington Academy as they perform through song, dance, poetry and art to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. Video produced by Jim Lepp.
Summer 2015 July on Campus
First Star Greater Washington Academy LLC - Summer Immersion at The George Washington University - July 2015 Blog On July 5th, we were delighted to welcome 23 students, both current and new, to the Merriweather dorm located at the beautiful Mount Vernon campus of The George Washington University for our third summer immersion experience. Students brought laughter, [...]
UCLA Academy Peer Mentor Pursues Ph.D.
As a former foster youth, Adrien Sebro overcame many hurdles to make it to college and succeed at UCLA. Now, while in pursuit of his Ph.D., he dedicates his time inspiring foster youth to look beyond their turbulent past and be uplifted by a promising, limitless future. Read More
BGSA Student Pays it Forward Through the Haitian Special Olympics Team
Watch this story of how First Star youth saw a need, and did something about it. Special Olympics World Games - Haiti Soccer Feature from Jeff York on Vimeo. Producer - Jeff York Camera - Hunter Hoopengarner Audio - Tim Johnson Edit - Erik Swanson/Amanda Benson
First Star Students Help Special Olympics Haitian Team
If you follow our Facebook page, you may already know that a group of foster youth from the First Star Bruin Guardians Academy have been learning - and teaching - lessons about giving. These young high school foster youth are in in the middle of the David Nathan Meyerson Random Acts of Kindness and Pay it [...]