Meet Our 2022 YLGW Scholarship Recipients

The Youth Leadership Greater Washington (YLGW) program provides leadership training to youth leaders while raising their voices around critical issues in the region. Thanks to the generosity of corporate and individual sponsors, youth leaders participate in the program tuition-free.

Each program year, the LGW member-led Maxine R. Baker Scholarship Fund provides college scholarship support for two youth leaders who complete the program. We are proud to announce this year's outstanding scholarship recipients:

Alex is a senior at Elizabeth Seton High School. She loves to travel, and has visited Mexico, France, Spain, Greece, Croatia, and Italy. Her dream vacation spots are Brazil and Japan. She lives in Bethesda, MD, with her mom, Carolyn Ellison ('17), and her two cats, Brandon and Houdini. Alex is planning to study at an out-of-state university so she can discover new places, and hopes to study Architecture and Psychology. Outside of school, she volunteers at a local church and is an active Girl Scout.

"I have learned so much during my time at YLGW. Practically every speaker was engaging and did not bore us, and I also made multiple friends that I still keep in touch with. I am grateful for the time spent planning everything."

Brandon is a sophomore at Winston Churchill High School. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but currently resides in Potomac, MD. As a military child that has been enrolled in 7 different school systems, Brandon travels a lot. He admits this can be difficult but believes he’s more culturally aware and sensitive to the world around him because of it. Brandon’s favorite subjects are math and science. After college, Brandon plans to serve in the military and eventually settle in the highest echelons of strategic or cyber intelligence. Brandon grew up volunteering in the community. Whether raising money, donating goods and services for the less fortunate or playing the drums for weekly church services, he believes the best type of leader is one that serves. Brandon is also a decorated athlete with several championship medals from the North American Grappling Association (Gold) and the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (Bronze). Today, Brandon is a level 7 USA Gymnast and is on his school’s wrestling team. In his spare time, Brandon enjoys playing paintball with friends, fishing with his granddad, hanging out with his twin brother and younger sister, or skiing with his family.

“I’ve had a great experience while participating in the YLGW program. Everyone was very open and respectful to each other. Even though most of us were nervous they put us in different groups each meeting so that we can get to know each other better and meet each other. The speakers that we had were very fun most of them have had rough backgrounds and were able to get out of it. They really spoke to us and the people we were. Overall it was a great experience and I really appreciate what everyone in the program is doing and did for us.”