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Education

Miami Northwestern Students Head To Nation's Capital

Carl Juste
/
Miami Herald

With fresh haircuts and the knowledge lunch would be waiting on the bus when they arrived, about two dozen Miami Northwestern High School students headed to Washington, D.C. early Thursday morning.

This is an annual trip put together by an organization called 5000 Role Models of Excellence. The group arranges service projects for students who join the club and helps them find mentors.

They’ll be meeting with Civil Rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, attending the Congressional Black Caucus’ annual conference and visiting the White House.

It’s the first trip to Washington, D.C. for senior Angelo Babel. He's excited about the chance to see President Barack Obama. He wants a photo of himself in the capital.

“And just have that to say ‘Hey, I did it,'" Babel said. "'I made a success story out of my life. You guys can do it as well.’

"I never thought in my life that I would go to Washington, D.C.”

Babel said his role models include his step-father and pastor. Babel wants to change what people think of his Liberty City school.

Miami Northwestern is celebrating its 60th anniversary, so Paul Wilson,  with the Miami-Dade school district, said  the trip was changed this year.

Instead of just the presidents and vice presidents of the 5000 Role Models clubs at 12 schools,  the entire Miami Northwestern High School club is going this year.

"We know that Miami Northwestern has been dealing with some trials and tribulations lately," Wilson said, referring to three students who were recently killed in separate shootings, "and some negative light has been shed on the school, so we want to shed some positive light."

Read more at The Miami Herald.

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