5 Maryland Students Honored for Academic Excellence

When a high school chorus suddenly lost its teacher mid-rehearsal season, most students would panic. Junior Erica Hall at Henry E. Lackey High School instead stepped up to lead her entire group, organizing music and running rehearsals until administrators found a replacement.

Hall is one of five Charles County students honored by the Board of Education on February 10 for exceptional achievement. The recognition spans elementary through high school and celebrates students who demonstrate excellence in academics, personal responsibility, and career readiness.

Fifth grader Nancy Anyanwu of C. Paul Barnhart Elementary maintains straight A's while taking sixth-grade accelerated math. She earned the highest fall test scores at her school and helped lead the math team to a top five finish. Principal Carrie Burke says it's rare to find a student who combines such high ability with strong work habits and accountability.

Fellow fifth grader Santiago Real of Arthur Middleton Elementary shows what career readiness looks like in action. He reads morning announcements in both English and Spanish, serves on safety patrol, and participates in math team, robotics, and Destination Imagination while playing community basketball.

Taahirah Diggs of Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary brings enthusiasm to everything she tries. She loves every subject equally, crochets, draws, swims, and participates in multiple school clubs. Her principal says her genuine love of learning is truly special.

Eighth grader Trieu Nguyen at John Hanson Middle School has maintained straight A's for three years and will leave middle school with five high school credits completed. She currently takes geometry at Thomas Stone High School and uses her advanced skills to help classmates struggling with difficult subjects.

Why This Inspires

These students show that excellence isn't just about grades. Hall's leadership kept an entire chorus program running during a crisis. Real demonstrates how fifth graders can prepare for future careers through active engagement. Nguyen uses her abilities to lift others up rather than just getting ahead.

Their achievements prove that when schools recognize different types of success, students rise to meet those expectations in creative ways.

Charles County Public Schools serves nearly 28,000 students across 38 schools in Southern Maryland. The district focuses on building character and preparing students for life beyond the classroom, and these five students show that approach working beautifully.