Sandalwood Student Selected as Finalist in National Speaker Contest
Jacksonville - Majda Mujagic, a junior at Sandalwood High School, was selected as one of only 16 finalists nationwide to participate in Advancement Via Individual Determination’s (AVID) 2010 Summer Institute.
“This is the second year in a row that a Sandalwood student has been selected to speak at this wonderful event,” said Elaine Mann, Duval County Public Schools’ chief officer of high school education. “Madja’s story is an example of how the AVID program is helping our young people succeed.”
The contest searched for dynamic speakers with unique and compelling stories. This year's theme, “A Tradition of Innovation, a Future of Transformation,” requested students’ speak about their personal experiences and how AVID has helped them reach for their dreams.
Madja, a Bosnian immigrant, explains how the AVID program helped her with her organizational skills and taught her about setting goals and achieving them through hard work. “AVID is not just a class, AVID is a tool,” said Madja. “While most classes prepare students for the rigorous work in college, AVID prepares you for a successful lifestyle.”
Madja will tell her story on June 20, during the 2010 AVID Summer Institute in Orlando, Florida.
The AVID program targets students in the academic middle — B, C and D students — who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. The program puts these students on the college track: acceleration instead of remediation. Currently, 11 Duval County high schools have AVID programs.
For more information about AVID, visit
www.avidonline.org or contact the district's AVID Specialist Eddie Christian at 904-348-7788.
More DCPS News
