Friends of Ballou

💙💛🙏🏽

A funeral procession honoring fallen police officer Terry Bennett will take place Friday, closing multiple roads from Washington, D.C., through Prince George’s County to Laurel.

Officer Bennett was tragically killed in December 2025 while assisting a stranded motorist on I-695. The driver responsible faces murder charges.

The funeral service will be held at City of Praise Family Ministry in Landover, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and the service at 11:30 a.m. The procession is expected between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Road closures will affect major routes including portions of the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95), Suitland Parkway, Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, South Capitol Street, and MD-295, among others.

Motorists should plan for delays and seek alternate routes during the procession.

Zack Larson and his team organized a college visit for a group of students to Houston, TX. The visit comprised tours of Texas Southern University, the University of Houston Clear Lake, the Texas Medical Center, and the NASA Space Center. I was delighted to host the students for dinner during their stay in Houston.

The Friends of Ballou helped sponsor a collegiate tour to Tennessee, enabling the Knights to visit prestigious institutions including Fisk University, Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University, and the African American Music Museum. Mr. Zack Larson and Ballou's team continue to enrich students' understanding of post-secondary opportunities. If you're looking for end of year gifting ideas, please consider donating to the Friends of Ballou account with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. 💙💛

https://donate.thecommunityfoundation.org/give/462066/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR227prI_272-YG2vesm2nYMBzW0qs_BtxP3OZR7LApQyz0fnf5EfsSf_Og_aem_8sFpo8FP6fKZwsjH5Sprqw #!/donation/checkout

2024 Knights Football Schedule

The Friends of Ballou were happy to support Mr. Larson and a group of 10th and 11th grade students on their college tour to New Orleans. The students visited Xavier, Dillard, Tulane, and the WW2 Museum.

Thanks Coach Locksley!

It's always great to see Knights doing great things. Congrats Gary! 💙💛

Broadband Infrastructure Company ByVerTek Appoints Telecom Veteran as Chief Operating Officer - ByVerTek DECEMBER 5, 2023 — BOCA RATON, Fla. — Broadband construction and engineering services company ByVerTek today announced it has brought on communications technology industry veteran Gary Gadson to serve in its newly created Chief Operating Officer position. “Gary’s deep experience in the fiber...

Top Black Amazon executives share tips, advice with students at DC’s Ballou High School - WTOP News Some of the top Black executives at Amazon brought their best personal and professional tips to a group of young leaders at Ballou High School in Southeast D.C. in a partnership between the tech giant and D.C. Public Schools.

Thank you Mr. Watson! 💙

Teacher Gets Huge Gift To Help Make Kids’ Dreams Become a Reality Ellen first met Darrell Watson 15 years ago as the band teacher at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C. After a few more appearances throughout the years, ...

Congratulations to the Frank W. Ballou SHS Class of 2021!

The students accomplished a tremendous achivement during some of the most challenging times of our lives! We're proud of them and wish them all the best as they move into the next chapter of their lives. Good luck and God bless you all.

Tune in live to today's graduation. https://youtu.be/wXvb0CitRgU

Caps and gowns for the students were provided by the Friends of Ballou in memory of Mr. F. Harvey Faunteroy, a dedicated and long-time supporter of the Ballou family.

2021 Ballou High School Graduation

It takes a village!

Howard's Ayonna Williams is a Southeast DC success story in the making - HBCU Gameday Howard basketball star Ayonna Williams uses the support of her Southeast DC "village" to leave her mark on the school and her city.