First lady Michelle Obama chose to give the commencement address Wednesday at Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter School, a large and successful high school; if she had waited a few days and chosen to appear at the Hospitality High School on Saturday morning, she would have discovered a more intimate community.
She would have met graduates like Andre Williams.
“He had a really difficult year,” says Tiffany Godbout, the school’s executive director. “Actually, a really difficult life.”
Andre’s father has been in jail for years; his brother had been attending college, but last year he wound up behind bars. Andre was on his way home from school one day when a bunch of boys jumped him. A friend of the family was killed this year.
“Despite all that,” Godbout says, “he had great attendance.” And he attained a 3.4 grade point average. And he was admitted to the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
Andre’s mother is raising him and a younger sister in an apartment on Erie Street Southeast. His adviser offered to help with his writing skills this summer. Andre said he had no computer. The school gave him one. He has no idea how to pay for school. Hospitality High did.
Andre was awarded the Dean Wilhelm scholarship for $2,500. Wilhelm put 30 years into Washington’s hotel industry, as general manager of Holiday Inns and other hotels. He died this year, and his family created a fund for graduates, like Andre. The school found more money; now Andre gets to start college.
All of Hospitality High’s 22 graduates were accepted to college, and all but a few will go. The charter school, celebrating its 10th year, teaches basic academics, but it also offers four credits in hospitality, from soft skills like answering phones and shaking hands to culinary arts, marketing and management. Its 163 students have opportunities to work in local hotels and join a team to compete in the national lodging management games, the high school Olympics for future hoteliers.
Who knew?
Most of the students bus every day from Anacostia to the top floor of Roosevelt High on 16th Street.
“All of our kids overcome so much,” Godbout says.
Like Thomas Lampkin. He came to Hospitality High from Suitland High, where his GPA was .59. He repeated 11th grade. He went to summer school. He raised his grades to 2.0; his senior year they rose to 3.0. For his improvement and leadership, he was awarded the David Wilmot II scholarship for $3,000. He plans to study law enforcement at Prince George’s Community College.
Other students will be going to the University of Delaware, Virginia Commonwealth University and Trinity College in D.C.
Valedictorian Evelyn Richardson got a full ride to Tuskegee University.
Andre, Thomas and Evelyn are scheduled to accept their diplomas at commencement 6 p.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel on Ninth Street near the Convention Center.
Perhaps next year Mrs. Obama can address Hospitality High’s graduates; the kids certainly qualify for overcoming odds, and she’s guaranteed a great meal.
