ADC

Off to Notre Dame! Meet Mieraf Haile. An Ethiopian-American born and raised in Maryland, Mieraf is a first-generation college student who sets exceptionally high expectations for herself both inside and outside the classroom. A dedicated scholar, she has maintained an unweighted 4.0 GPA while earning straight As throughout high school, resulting in recognition through the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, and National English Honor Society. She is also a recipient of the National African American Recognition Program and the National First-Generation Recognition Program, accolades that highlight her academic excellence and leadership as a trailblazer for her family and community.
At Sherwood High School, Mieraf has embraced leadership at the highest levels. As President of Women in STEM, she has created initiatives that broaden access for female students in science and technology, from organizing a STEM showcase with the Child Development Program to establishing mentorship opportunities with the University of Virginia’s All-Girls STEM Society. She also serves as Co-President of EMPOWHER, Vice President of Girls in Athletics, and Vice President of Sherwood Ambassadors, roles that have allowed her to foster inclusion, community, and advocacy for women and immigrant students alike. In addition, as Captain of the Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field teams, she has led her peers in both athletic and personal growth, balancing the demands of competition with rigorous academics.
Beyond school walls, Mieraf has had a remarkable impact through her nonprofit leadership. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Aiding Girls Reach Education (AGRE), an international nonprofit that has raised over $4,000 to support educational resources for more than 200 girls in Ethiopia. Through AGRE, she has coordinated tutoring sessions, built mentorship programs, and developed a global team of over 60 high school volunteers dedicated to empowering young women through education. This initiative was born out of Mieraf’s personal experiences in her family’s village of Wagebeta, Ethiopia, where she learned of legislation threatening the futures of girls her age. Her determination to act has since transformed into a movement that empowers both students and volunteers worldwide.
Mieraf’s passion for healthcare is equally profound. She has interned at the Army Research Laboratory as a Near Peer Mentor, where she designed DNA extraction modules, led engineering experiments, and guided over 100 students through coding and biotechnology projects. She has also shadowed physicians at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center’s Cardiology Associates, observing patient care, administering cardiac stress tests, and interpreting EKGs. This summer, she interned at a local primary care clinic in Olney, assisting with patient histories and vitals, while also conducting microfluidics and soft robotics research at the University of Maryland’s Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing Lab under Dr. Ryan Sochol. Together, these experiences solidify her interest in public health and medicine, fields she intends to study further as a college student.
Rooted in her Ethiopian heritage and her family’s values, Mieraf balances her leadership with service and faith. She has volunteered in the Intermediary Care Unit at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, comforting over 100 patients recovering from strokes, an experience made
especially personal by her grandfather’s illness. At her Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, she serves as a Sunday School teacher, leading Bible lessons for children and drawing religious icons in her free time as both a spiritual and creative practice.
Looking ahead, Mieraf plans to pursue a double major in Public Health and Neuroscience with the goal of becoming a physician dedicated to advancing healthcare and educational equity, particularly for underserved communities. Her long-term vision is to establish a clinic and educational center in Wagebeta, Ethiopia, addressing both medical needs and girls’ access to schooling. With a proven record of academic excellence, innovative leadership, and a deep commitment to global health, Mieraf is prepared to make lasting contributions to any campus community she joins.

Off to Princeton! Meet Esther Atolaiye, an aspiring neurosurgeon, who describes herself as the embodiment of her ancestor’s wildest dreams with an unrelenting spirit to change the world through neurological innovations in STEM and the inspiring of young minorities. Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, and raised in a small town called Burtonsville, Esther has continually exhibited a drive to succeed in everything she sets her mind to. She’s extremely proud of their ethnic Nigerian heritage, and advocacy and STEM serve as the foundation of who Esther is as an individual, with this being shown in numerous ways.

Within her high school, Esther is an avid learner in the Paint Branch Academy of Health Professions, where she’s already taken the two foundational courses (Foundations of Health Sciences and Structures & Functions of the Human Body). This year, she’s currently in her third course of the medical program where she has the wonderful opportunity in second semester to participate in an on-site hospital internship at Holy Cross and will receive her Maryland Certified Nursing Assistant License in the spring of 2026. A part from this, Esther is also working towards her goal of becoming a neurosurgeon by challenging herself in rigorous Advanced Placement science courses in her high school, including AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics. Additionally, to highlight some more of the academic adventures Esther has embarked on (excluding the courses mentioned before), she has also taken AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP World History: Modern, AP Calculus BC, and AP English Language and Composition, and is currently taking AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, and AP Statistics. For all the APs Esther has taken so far, she’s scored all 5s on the exams. Her intellectual prowess also extends to other standardized tests, such as the SAT, where she scored an astonishing 1510.

Outside the scope of schoolwork, Esther still remains heavily involved in the Paint Branch community. For one, she currently serves as the schoolwide Student Government Association (SGA) President, advocating on behalf of a student body of over 2,000. In her junior year, she served as the schoolwide SGA Secretary where she implemented an initiative of providing over 100+ pages of digital notes to her fellow high school students to aid them in their academic pursuits. To continue, Esther is a part of the leadership team for her school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where she assists in planning and facilitating weekly meetings in which over 30+ student athletes attend to learn how to connect sports to their faith, and she also embarked on a service trip to Malaysia, providing sports clinics to refugees. (Speaking of sports, Esther has also played on her school’s Varsity Cross Country Team and Girls’ Basketball Team) Esther has also occupied leadership roles in Paint Branch’s Black and African Student Union (where she is a Co-Founder and Co-President) and multiple honor societies, including the Social Studies Honor Society (serving as Vice President) and National Art Honor Society (serving as the Social Media Coordinator).

Esther’s work also extends into her school county through her involvement in several community-based organizations. Currently, she’s one of two Administrators for the Montgomery County Public Schools Special Elections Committee (SEC), where Esther oversees and directs the countywide student organization that facilitates the elections for the MCPS Student Member of the Board of Education and Montgomery County Regional Officers. Esther finds great joy and purpose in this role as she believes the SEC provides a blueprint for how over 88,000 MCPS secondary students will vote in future congressional and presidential elections. Besides this, Esther also serves as Communications Director of MoCo EmpowHER, a countywide women’s and non-binary individuals’ empowerment organization where she manages the emailing system and has facilitated self defense workshops and cultural celebrations; and she’s also the Public Relations Director of Eco MoCo, a youth-led environmental organization where she directs a team of about 20 members to create digital art relating to environmental sustainability. Esther also engages in volunteer work, having served three consecutive summers (2021-2023) at Forcey Day Camp, first as a Counselor-in-Training and then as a Buddy Counselor. Working 40 hours a week over these three summers, she ensured proper child care and assisted the “Friday Fun” Team in planning exciting games and activities for the adolescent campers on Fridays. Yet, apart from all of these activities, one of the extracurricular areas that Esther excels the most in is in those that are heavily STEM-based.

The summer after her sophomore year of high school, Esther stepped into action pursuing major STEM projects by serving as a summer intern in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Oncology Center of Excellence. Here, she dedicated herself to learning daily about the different biological processes playing a role in cancer development and visited a variety of medical sites and pharmaceutical companies (e.g. AstraZeneca, the National Institutes of Health, etc.). Through this internship, Esther also lobbied to staffers (Staffer Abigail Ashcraft for Congressman Michael McCaul (TX) and Staffer Andrew Murray for Senator Todd Young (IN)) of U.S. Congress members on Capitol Hill, encouraging them to advocate more strongly for bills improving cancer patient care. She also culminated this summer experience by working with a team of two to craft a presentation on demographic disparities in pediatric leukemia; her team was one of just three voted on by her peers to be selected for subsequent presentation at the FDA clinical trials! In addition to this internship, Esther has also participated in the Columbia IYRC Medicine and Research Program where she learned about different chronic medical diseases weekly from medical students studying at Columbia University, Stanford University, and other T20 educational institutions. For her final project, Esther composed a health narrative on her battle with overcoming depression, and this paper was not only selected for presentation at the International Youth Researcher’s Global Conference in January 2025, but also selected for publication in the internationally recognized International Youth Researchers’ Conference Journal.

Another highlight of Esther’s STEM journey includes being accepted into MITES Semester, the MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science Semester Program, which is not only associated with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but moreover exposes traditionally marginalized groups to the wonders of science. Here, Esther conducted a hands-on research project in which she worked with planarian worms and explored how the regeneration of planarians is impacted by prolonged exposure to red light and varying pH levels of solution. For MITES, she also conducted interviews with scientific researchers from top institutions such as Boston University and composed her own scientific article on racial disparities in pediatric neuroblastoma. This most recent summer (2025), Esther also received some lab experience in University of Maryland’s Fischell Department of Bioengineering; here, Esther worked under the assistance of UMD PhD student Mrs. Lexi Christensen, producing 3D prints and also analyzing different cell types used for projects on how to treat histopathology issues pertaining to female mastectomies.

A part from the large load of extracurriculars Esther partakes in, she loves to spend her free time hanging out with friends, reading fictional stories, and writing stories and essays herself (she even won an award from this in the Harvard Alumni GlobalWE IYRC Essay Competition 2024). Looking at the road ahead, Esther hopes to major in neuroscience/biochemistry in university and hopes to continue using her voice and spirit to continually advocate on the behalf of others.

Off to Northeastern! Meet Yanet Tesfaye (ADC 2026), an Ethio-Eritrean American born in Alexandria, Virginia, now living in Lorton, Virginia. Yanet Tesfaye is a highly motivated senior with strong academic and extracurricular involvement. Maintaining a 4.0+ at South County High School, Yanet continues to challenge herself with a multitude of AP and rigorous college-level classes such as AP Research, AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP English Lang/Composition, AP Government, AP Physics CM, AP Calculus BC, DE Entrepreneurship, English Comp DE, and many more. Yanet is also a president of her local Habesha tutoring club, Vice President of her schools African Student Association, Vice President of her schools Pathways2Progress, and a competitor for her schools’ Model UN, Quiz Bowl, and Technology Student Association chapters.
With her passion in business administration, Yanet Tesfaye has pursued opportunities to support this career path through her job, high level classes, and extracurriculars. For example, she got into DECA this past year and made her way up to ICDC as a competitor in Business Services Marketing, taking 100 question tests and practice tests as well as roleplays that require a calm and focused mindset. These experiences have allowed Yanet to gain much needed skills in public speaking, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, connecting an academic interest with real-world skills.
Something that has deeply shaped Yanet’s interest in the medical field, her grandfather's hospitalisation had been really hard on her as he had begun to lose his memory, getting better only after hospital staff began interacting with him and kindly supporting his way to a full recovery. This experience inspired her to volunteer at Virginia’s largest hospital, Fairfax Medical Campus. Through this volunteering, Yanet has been able to support grieving, happy, and healthy hospital goers in the Gift Shop, having conversations with people she never would’ve met or spoken with otherwise. While managing the finances and transactions, Yanet has been able to efficiently lead and independently run Virginia’s biggest gift shop on her own.
Besides academics and volunteering, Yanet is actively involved in her culture and its community. As president of the United Ethiopian Committee’s Habesha Kid’s Club, Yanet has been able to lead 100+ students and tutors throughout the year while running its highly effective weekly tutoring service. HKC requires a commitment to leadership, communication, and funding that Yanet has been able to pursue and commit while still maintaining a great relationship with all the children. As she is organizing attendance, other leaders, and acquiring new volunteers to tutor, Yanet has also managed to partner this club with her school’s DECA chapter to run a small fundraiser for books, school supplies, and snacks for the children. Additionally, she participates in her church community as a Worship Leader in her Youth Community, giving sermons, singing, and leading the program through the year.
In her free time, Yanet enjoys baking, reading, and playing video games, as well as being an avid gym-goer, which brings balance and relaxation to her life. Looking to her future, Yanet aspires to fulfill her education in Business Administration and get her masters, taking and utilizing this education to expand her parents’ medical business to its highest potential and explore new ventures.

Off to Brown University. Meet Yonathan Bezza (ADC 2026) who is admitted into Brown University's hyper competitive PLME Program where only 64 students were admitted from the entire country of the 4,687 applicants - a 1.4% admission rate. Yonathan Bezza, a scholar and leader from Fishers, Indiana. He prioritizes health equity, research, public speaking, and mentoring in both the classroom and the community. Yonathan is one of the best students at Hamilton Southeastern High School. He has a 4.82 GPA, is ranked 4th in his class. He received the AP Scholar with Distinction award and the AP Capstone Diploma after having taken 14 different AP classes and many dual-credit courses with colleges like Indiana University.
Indiana HOSA, where Yonathan is the State President, is the best place to see his love for healthcare leadership. He spoke in front of more than 14,000 HOSA members, led hour-long workshops on leadership and skill development for hundreds of students, helped plan six statewide conferences, and grew his local HOSA chapter by 78%. He advocated at the Indiana State House, where he spoke to the lieutenant governor, and in Washington, D.C., where he met with legislative aides for U.S. senators and representatives.
As a Field Research Assistant at Indiana University School of Medicine's Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center, Yonathan has worked on research studies about cardiovascular equity and social determinants of health for more than 500 hours. He gathered and organized more than 100 data entries, kept project databases up to date in REDCap, and helped with survey methodology. He is currently working on two research projects: one that is focused on gathering data on the effects of SDOH on cardiovascular disease and another that is measuring public knowledge about social determinants of health in order to improve educational tools. These experiences show he’s refined both the technical and soft skills of science that put patients first.
Yonathan is the Varsity captain of both Public Forum Debate and International Extemporaneous speaking at his high school. Through excellent mentoring and public speaking skills, he taught numerous new debaters and speakers through workshops, spent more than 100 hours doing research and practicing speeches, and handled the team's finances, which included more than $2,000 in dues to help them go to competitions. He came in 3rd in Varsity Public Forum at the Southport Smackdown, 1st in Extemporaneous Speaking, and 4th in Impromptu at the New Castle BooTacular Competition.
Yonathan is heavily passionate about service. He is the co-president and former treasurer of HSE Key Club, where he organized fundraisers, such as service weeks, to raise over $1,000 and awareness about melanoma cancer, and led a Day of Service for junior high students to talk about Key Club and its benefits. He helped his team raise more than $10,000 for blood cancer research with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and was inducted into the Team Member Hall of Fame. He volunteers at Ascension St. Vincent Fishers Hospital in the Emergency and Medical-Surgical departments, where he helps staff; cleans and restocks ER rooms; takes vital signs under the supervision of a nurse; and supports patient-centered operations. He also competes in DECA, where he qualified for and attended the International Career and Development Conference in Florida and came in 2nd place at Indiana's 2025 State Career Development Conference. At his high school, he is a DECA mentor, where he helps underclassmen with their research papers and presentations. He developed 20-page business enhancement plans and interviewed business leaders. Finally, he tutored students with math topics ranging from Algebra to Calculus BC for over 40 hours as a math team tutor and a member of the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society.
Yonathan is known for both his academic excellence and his initiative. He uses data-driven research and persuasive communication to help teams and projects move forward. He wants to make people's lives better through science, leadership, and advocacy, whether it's by gathering and analyzing health data, mentoring younger students, or talking to thousands of people.

Off to Emory. Meet Sara Rameto (ADC 2026), an Ethiopian-American student from Washington, D.C., Sara is an ambitious AP candidate at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, where she maintains a 4.19 weighted GPA while pursuing rigorous AP coursework in macroeconomics, statistics, and computer science. Known for setting high standards for herself, Sara combines academic excellence with a passion for finance, sustainability, and social equity.
Sara’s leadership journey is marked by a dedication to turning ideas into action. She co-founded her school’s Financial Literacy Club, creating a space where students learn real-world money management skills and explore entrepreneurship. As a Council Member of the M Street Youth Leadership Program, she collaborates with peers across Washington, D.C. to research community challenges, analyze youth engagement strategies, and propose solutions that impact more than 4,500 residents. Her voice in civic spaces underscores her ability to not only identify problems but also mobilize others toward meaningful change.
Her summer experiences demonstrate both curiosity and initiative. At the Stevens Pre-College Business Exploration Program, she gained firsthand exposure to college-level business curriculum and collaborated with peers on a trial startup project called Remediya, a mobile app designed to expand healthcare access. This experience deepened her interest in the intersection of business and health innovation, while also sharpening her teamwork and presentation skills. Through the Invest in Girls Financial Education Program (CEE), Sara expanded her knowledge of fundamental finance and banking concepts, which inspired her to launch EthioFLI (Financial Literacy Initiative) — a community project where she now teaches Ethiopian immigrants and youth in her church practical money management skills across weekly interactive workshops. She also completed the STEM GWUL Program, an 8-week rigorous STEM pipeline where she gained hands-on exposure to animation, story-telling through SCRATCH, and advanced technology— preparing her to connect STEM disciplines with problem-solving in real-world contexts.
Her influence extends across multiple organizations. As Treasurer of the Student Government Association, she has coordinated school-wide fundraising and financial planning initiatives. In her role as Treasurer of the African Student Union, Sara organizes performances and events that celebrate cultural heritage. Meanwhile, as Secretary of Model UN, she represents global perspectives, honing her skills in diplomacy, debate, and negotiation. She also leverages her communication strengths as Social Media Advisor Manager for C.A.R.E., a nonprofit promoting healthcare equity in rural Ethiopia, where she leads outreach campaigns, manages online fundraising and helped raise $1,000+ to be used for medical kits and supplies delivered to underserved communities in Ethiopia.
Outside of academics and service, Sara is also a Varsity Tennis athlete, contributing to her team’s strong season and helping them secure 3rd place in the DCIAA citywide tournament.
Equally committed to service, Sara has dedicated over 400 volunteer hours through organizations like Shepherd’s Table, Fort Stevens Recreation Center, and The Social Justice School, coordinating events, tutoring, and community support. Her faith in community plays a key role in her life as well; she serves at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, helping lead Sunday School programs and youth initiatives as an Assistant Teacher. These efforts reflect her belief that leadership must be grounded in empathy and service.
Sara’s impact has earned her recognition through in school awards such as Model UN Best Delegate Honorable Mention, a $200 LearnServe International grant for her Financial Literacy Initiative, and 3rd in the 2025 Academic World Quest competition, where she and her classmates represented the only school from DC. She has also consistently appeared on the Principal’s Honor Roll and earned Honorable Mention at the 2025 Science Fair for her collaborative microbiology research.

Off to UPenn. Meet Melat Beniyam. An ambitious student and engaged community member, Melat's passion for law, leadership, and community service drives her to hold leadership roles in numerous clubs, be an active member in several charity organizations, and pursue real-world experiences to prepare herself for her future. An avid debater, she has been a captain on her debate team going on 3 years and has competed in her local, regional, super regional, and states tournaments numerous times. She has explored her interest in law and politics interning in the office of Elizabeth Guzmán, where her duties include performing essential voter outreach, office functions, and networking with local policy makers. As an active officer in various school clubs, leadership roles she holds in her school include Math Honor Society president, East African Student Association president, and Hugh O’ Brian Youth Leadership Mentor. Moreover, she acknowledges the importance of philanthropy, evident in her role of co-president and founding member of Rise Up Lijoch, a student-led charity organization dedicated to improving the lives of Ethiopian students by providing school supplies to underprivileged schools in Ethiopia. Over the past 2 years, the organization has raised over $4,000, hosted numerous fundraisers in collaboration with local businesses, donated hundreds of educational supplies to Ethiopia, and gained hundreds of supporters. Additionally, she is a regular volunteer at St. Thomas UMC Food Pantry, where she has had the opportunity to aid in the distribution of food supplies to families in need. These experiences have ignited a love for community service and volunteerism, which Melat intends to further develop. Mentorship is also a passion of hers, as she participates in tutoring and mentorship programs in National Social Studies Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and National Honor Society.

Off to Boston College! Meet Ruth Bayou (ADC 2026), an Ethiopian-born student raised in the United States who embraces her cultural heritage while forging her path as a scholar, leader, and advocate. Ruth holds herself to the highest academic standards, maintaining a 4.77 weighted GPA and a 3.93 unweighted GPA while pursuing one of the most rigorous course loads available. By the time she graduates, she will have completed 11 Advanced Placement courses, including advanced STEM classes such as AP Biology and AP Chemistry, as well as rigorous humanities courses like AP U.S. History. She has consistently earned Honor Roll recognition and is a proud member of both the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society.
Beyond the classroom, Ruth is deeply committed to service and leadership. She has completed more than 300 hours of community service, supporting patients in hospitals, assisting seniors through Alzheimer’s awareness initiatives, and volunteering at local food banks and libraries. Inspired by her passion for medicine and healthcare equity, Ruth founded and now serves as President of March for Medicine (MFM), a club dedicated to raising awareness about the underrepresentation of minorities in medicine. Under her leadership, the club has raised over $500, assembled care packages, and hosted guest speakers to encourage students of all backgrounds to become advocates in healthcare. MFM’s mission reflects Ruth’s broader commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and building inclusive communities.
Ruth’s leadership extends across her school community. She is President of the Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association (EESA), Co-Chair of the Minority Scholars Program (MSP), Conference Coordinator for Model United Nations, and Co-President of LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) at Wootton. She also serves on the Student Government Association (SGA), is an officer for Pop for a Cause, and remains an active member of NHS, SNHS, EHS, and MHS. Through MSP, Ruth has co-organized protests and rallies addressing racism, including one she helped lead that united students and faculty in a powerful call for racial equity and accountability.
Her advocacy is also deeply personal. After her grandfather’s misdiagnosis in Ethiopia, Ruth developed a strong interest in medicine and neuroscience. Witnessing the consequences of limited healthcare resources on her family fueled her determination to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon and confront inequities in medical systems worldwide. She has strengthened this passion through both a DNA research internship and a physical therapy internship, where she combined scientific exploration with patient-centered care. These experiences have reinforced her drive to merge research, medicine, and advocacy in her future career.
Ruth’s impact and dedication have been widely recognized. She is a State Champion in DECA, has earned the Presidential Service Award for her extensive commitment to volunteerism, and has been honored in Model UN as a two-time Outstanding Delegate and gavel winner.
For Ruth, education is more than academic achievement—it is a platform to inspire change. She has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion by designing lesson plans that challenge stereotypes, speaking at community events, and mentoring younger students. She embraces her Ethiopian heritage and American upbringing as sources of strength, using her unique perspective to advocate for equity in both education and healthcare.
In addition to her academic and leadership achievements, Ruth enjoys traveling, reading, and engaging with her cultural community. She values meaningful connections and believes in the power of storytelling, advocacy, and service to create lasting change.
With her outstanding academic record, proven leadership, and unwavering passion for healthcare equity, Ruth Bayou exemplifies the qualities of a scholar-advocate. Whether through medicine, research, or public service, she is determined to use her voice and efforts to create a more equitable and compassionate world.