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Triad senior becomes first African-American valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in 100 years

Triad senior becomes first African-American valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in 100 years
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WILL BE GRADUATING AND CELEBRATING AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES. AND ONE SENIOR AT R.J. REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL IS CELEBRATING A VERY SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT. SHE IS THE HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN VALEDICTORIAN. WXII 12, LOUIE TRAN JOINS US LIVE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WITH HER STORY IN THIS 12 INSPIRES. YEAH, ALISHA WASHINGTON TELLS YOU THAT THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS NOT JUST AN HONOR, IT’S ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPACT THAT THIS CAN HAVE ON YOUNGER STUDENTS. AND FORSYTH COUNTY. IT’S THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AT R.J. REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS ARE TURNED IN AND TESTS ARE WRAPPING UP A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR GRADUATING SENIORS, INCLUDING ALISHA WASHINGTON. WHEN I FIRST INITIALLY FOUND OUT, I WAS JUST SO HONORED. WASHINGTON IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN VALEDICTORIAN AT HER HIGH SCHOOL IN 100 YEARS. A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR HER AND THE COMMUNITY. WHEN I STARTED THINKING I’M LIKE, THIS IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ME, LIKE REPRESENTATION MATTERS. LIKE, I KNOW THAT’S IMPORTANT AND I KNOW FROM MYSELF. I MEAN, EXPERIENCE REPRESENTS AND DEFINITELY MATTERS. WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU AND SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO OR YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND WASHINGTON PERSONALLY UNDERSTANDS THAT IMPACT HER SCHOOL COUNSELOR KRISTEN WILEY, SUPPORTED HER ALONG THE WAY, AND AT HOME, SHE RECEIVED UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HER FAMILY. HER MOTHER, LAVONA WASHINGTON, IS NOT ONLY LOOKING TO HER DAUGHTER’S FUTURE, BUT SHE’S ALSO REFLECTING BACK ON THE PAST, LEARNING ABOUT THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT AT REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL AFTER SEGREGATION. HER NAME WAS GWENDOLYN BAILEY AND SHE SET THE FOUNDATION FOR LACEY. I THINK ABOUT JUST THE CHALLENGES THAT SHE FACED AS A STUDENT AND IT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR LACEY TO HAVE THIS TITLE TODAY. AND WASHINGTON SAYS WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TITLE ARE THE LESSONS SHE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY, INCLUDING ONE FROM HER GREAT GRANDMOTHER SHE HOPES TO SHARE WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS. IF YOU’RE GOING TO INVEST IN ANYTHING, INVEST IN YOURSELF AND INVEST IN GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION AND EXPANDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE THAT IS THAT IS SOMETHING NOBODY CAN TAKE AWAY. ALISHA WASHINGTON PLANS TO ATTEND A UNCG CHARLOTTE THIS FALL ON A FULL RIDE ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP. NOW SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE HOPES TO BECOME A PEDIATRIC NURSE ANESTHETIST IN W
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Triad senior becomes first African-American valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in 100 years
A Triad senior recently made history by becoming the first African-American Valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. in 100 years.This weekend will be a special experience for many high school seniors as they will walk across the stage during the graduation ceremony, including for Alecia Washington.She recently became her high school's valedictorian — the first African-American student to achieve the high honor in 100 years.WXII 12 News verified the achievement with a leader for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools.Washington, of Winston-Salem, will attend her second graduation this weekend in the past two months. She had recently graduated from Forsyth Technical Community College with an associate's degree."It’s a new chapter. I’m going into adulthood. I’m going to be living on my own in college. I’m pretty nervous about graduating, but I’m excited. I’m excited for all of my family. My little cousins see me walk across that stage," she said.While Washington is very proud of her historic achievement, she said she is more excited about the impact and message it can send to younger students who look like her, especially those who live in underserved communities."When I started thinking, this is so much bigger than me, like representation matters. I know that’s important. I know from experience, representation definitely matters. When you see somebody that looks like you, and something you want to do, or passionate about, it makes a huge difference. It’s not something I take lightly at all," she said.Washington credits her support system that made this milestone possible, including her school counselor Cristen Wiley, who advocated for Washington, and her family at home, especially her great-grandmother, who taught her a valuable life lesson."If you’re going to invest in anything, invest in yourself. Invest in getting a good education and expand your knowledge because that is nothing nobody can take away," Washington said of a key lesson her great-grandmother had taught her.Washington's mother, Lavonya Washington, said she was very emotional when she learned about her daughter's achievement, and it made her reflect back on the past that made this moment possible.She said she learned about the first African-American student to attend R.J. Reynolds High School after segregation."Her name was Gwendolyn Bailey. She set the foundation for Alecia. I think about the challenges that she faced as a student, and it made it possible for Alecia to have this title today," she said.Throughout her four years in high school, Washington was involved with several organizations that focused on helping students and youth within underserved communities, including the Ebon Society, Student Government Association, where she had served as vice president, and Youth Grant Makers in Action, where she had helped create grants for student-led organizations. "I was able to be a voice for those who didn’t feel like they were heard. I was able to bring that to my principal and bring that to the school board members if we wanted to make change," Washington said.Washington plans on attending UNC Charlotte on a full academic scholarship, where she plans to pursue her passion in the medical field and become a pediatric nurse anesthetist.

A Triad senior recently made history by becoming the first African-American Valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. in 100 years.

This weekend will be a special experience for many high school seniors as they will walk across the stage during the graduation ceremony, including for Alecia Washington.

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She recently became her high school's valedictorian — the first African-American student to achieve the high honor in 100 years.

WXII 12 News verified the achievement with a leader for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools.

Washington, of Winston-Salem, will attend her second graduation this weekend in the past two months. She had recently graduated from Forsyth Technical Community College with an associate's degree.

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"It’s a new chapter. I’m going into adulthood. I’m going to be living on my own in college. I’m pretty nervous about graduating, but I’m excited. I’m excited for all of my family. My little cousins see me walk across that stage," she said.

While Washington is very proud of her historic achievement, she said she is more excited about the impact and message it can send to younger students who look like her, especially those who live in underserved communities.

"When I started thinking, this is so much bigger than me, like representation matters. I know that’s important. I know from experience, representation definitely matters. When you see somebody that looks like you, and something you want to do, or passionate about, it makes a huge difference. It’s not something I take lightly at all," she said.

Washington credits her support system that made this milestone possible, including her school counselor Cristen Wiley, who advocated for Washington, and her family at home, especially her great-grandmother, who taught her a valuable life lesson.

"If you’re going to invest in anything, invest in yourself. Invest in getting a good education and expand your knowledge because that is nothing nobody can take away," Washington said of a key lesson her great-grandmother had taught her.

Washington's mother, Lavonya Washington, said she was very emotional when she learned about her daughter's achievement, and it made her reflect back on the past that made this moment possible.

She said she learned about the first African-American student to attend R.J. Reynolds High School after segregation.

"Her name was Gwendolyn Bailey. She set the foundation for Alecia. I think about the challenges that she faced as a student, and it made it possible for Alecia to have this title today," she said.

Throughout her four years in high school, Washington was involved with several organizations that focused on helping students and youth within underserved communities, including the Ebon Society, Student Government Association, where she had served as vice president, and Youth Grant Makers in Action, where she had helped create grants for student-led organizations.

"I was able to be a voice for those who didn’t feel like they were heard. I was able to bring that to my principal and bring that to the school board members if we wanted to make change," Washington said.

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Washington plans on attending UNC Charlotte on a full academic scholarship, where she plans to pursue her passion in the medical field and become a pediatric nurse anesthetist.