Congratulations to Montverde Academy sophomore Yohane Griffin, a native of Federal Way, Washington, and a member of SIMA, who has received numerous academic recognitions and honors this semester! Born in Malawi, Africa, Yohane moved to the USA at the age of 8 – entering school at 3rd grade. English was actually his 3rd language. Nonetheless, Yohane accepted the challenges necessary to achieve his current academic success. Before attending MVA as a freshman, he was enrolled Lakota Middle School’s Cambridge International Honors Academy Program where he was ranked #2 out of 272 students in his class. He also excelled athletically. As a student athlete, he broke numerous track record times – placing first in the Washington state 200m, 2nd in 100m and 1st in long jump. He placed 2nd in the United States in 200m at the National Hershey Track and Field 2012. Yohane was also a member of the Washington State Elite Player Development Soccer team.
This year, Yohane has been very successful academically – doing well as a Montverde Academy Upper School student – and also achieving success on his PSAT test. But as a 10th grader, Yohane has yet to decide if he wants to pursue a medical or an engineering career. But he will have options: Although Yohane has no affiliation with the Adventist faith, he has been nominated through Washington Adventist University (and selected) as a Delegate for the National Congress for National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, being held June 25th- 27th. Last month, he was also awarded that organization’s “Award of Excellence.” Yohane was also selected as a Delegate to the National Congress for National Academy for Future Scientists and Technologist- being held June 29, 30 and July 1, 2016 (both events will be held in Boston, Massachusetts).
More recently, through an academic partnership with George Mason University, to attend the 2016 National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Medicine. During the forum, Yohane will learn methods on getting into medical school and also interact with leading physicians and prospective medical students also participating with hands-on-medical study and activities. The event is held at University of California Berkeley on July 23-31, 2016. Yohane has also been selected a member of the National Society of High School Scholars based on his GPA and My College Guide at MVA. Membership with NSHSS is based on academic achievement and a candidates aptitude to inspire leadership, and focuses on helping members positively transition from high school to college, and consequentially from college into their young professional lives. Yohane will attend NSHSS national event being held at CIA Headquarters in Washington, DC, on August 13, 2016. Also this semester, Yohane was nominated for the 2016 Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Contest. Winners will receive a $5.000.00 scholarship and three-day learning seminar experience at the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Academy. Winners will be announced in July of 2016.
