2009 Professional Development Workshop
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The Frederick B. Abramson Memorial Foundation hosted its third annual Professional Development Workshop at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher on December 22, 2009. Nearly 20 Abramson Scholars from the past four years participated in modules on resume writing, the interview process, and internships, facilitated by the Mentoring Committee (including three former Scholars). Both Scholars and Mentors enjoyed this informative evening.
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With midterms and finals quickly approaching, our Scholars are in full swing to the fall semester. On Tuesday, October 26th, the Mentoring Committee met at Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher LLP to assemble care packages for the 2009 Abramson Scholars. The mentors contributed school supplies, snacks and words of encouragement to help the Scholars finish their first semester of college strong. The Abramson Foundation also invited the Scholar's parents to join in to help, as well as to meet their chidren's mentors. It was an enjoyable night for socializing for both mentors and parents and the care packages remind the Scholars that they are supported to succeed.
2009 Scholarship Awards Luncheon
The Frederick B. Abramson Foundation held its annual 2009 Scholarship Awards Luncheon on June 18 to honor the achievements of a dynamic group of nine graduating District of Columbia Public School high school seniors. Bruce Johnson, from W*USA 9, served as Master of Ceremonies and 2008 Scholars Shamaya Fenwick-Chisholm and Frank Fleming served as keynote speakers.
Since 1991, the Abramson Foundation has awarded nearly $800,000 in scholarships to over 250 DC Public School graduates who have continued on to four year colleges and universities. In addition to solid academic credentials, the Foundation seeks individuals whose activities and goals demonstrate their commitment to their communities in concrete ways. The scholarships are awarded based on financial need.
2009 Abramson Scholars with MC Bruce Johnson from WUSA 9 and Board President Richard Hanks
 Bruce Johnson, WUSA 9  Aaron Jenkins, 1999 Scholar and Mentoring Chair, and former board member, Judge Gladys Kessler, honor Donna Wulkan, Esq. for her commitment and service to the Foundation  Shamaya Fenwick-Chisholm, 2008 Scholar attending George Washington University delivers keynote speech  Frank Fleming, 2008 Scholar attending James Madison University delivers keynote speech  Addy Schmitt, Scholarship Chair, discusses the Scholarship Program  2009 Scholarship Awards Luncheon |
The Abramson Foundation hosted its second annual Professional Development Workshop at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher in late December. Abramson Scholars from the past four years attended this workshop during their winter breaks. A subcommittee of mentors presented simultaneous modules on resume and cover letter writing, internships, and interviewing. Scholars, mentors, and board members all enjoyed this informative, yet social, event!
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2008 Mentoring Social with Scholars and Mentors:
The Foundation hosted several social events this year that allowed our mentors and scholars to get to know one another better; one of them, a college send-off at Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes in August, provided the first opportunity for many of our scholars to bowl.
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 The Abramson Foundation hosted its annual Public Service Fellowship Awards Reception at Busboys and Poets on November 5, 2008 with keynote speaker DC Bar President and former DC Attorney General Robert Spagnoletti. Congratulations to our 2008 Abramson Fellows! |
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This year the Abramson Foundation awarded 14 scholarships totaling $50,000. Students from 10 different District of Columbia Public Schools were presented their awards on June 19, 2008 at The Hotel Monaco. Andrea Roane from WUSA 9 served as the Mistress of Ceremonies and 2007 Scholars Taneea Byrd and Michael Yeldell were the keynote speakers.
 2007 Abramson Foundation President Michael Lewis making welcoming remarks. |
 Mentoring Chair and Former Scholar Aaron Jenkins |
 Board Members Judge Pamela Gray and Linda Singer |
 MC Andrea Roane of WUSA 9 |
 Keynote Speaker and 2007 Scholar Michael Yeldell |
 2008 Abramson Foundation President Richard Hanks making closing remarks. |
 2008 Scholars |
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| Keynote Speaker Professor Angela Davis | 2007 Abramson Foundation Fellows and Professor Davis |
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| Board members Addy Schmidt, Hon. Emmet Sullivan, and Fellowship Chair Laurie Kohn |
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| Cheng Zhang and Samrawit Belew both Bell Multicultural Graduates attending James Madison and Purdue University respectively | Hedy Romero graduate of Cesar Chavez PCS attending UCLA talking with fellow 2007 Scholars |
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| Allison de Groot, Keynote Speaker and 2006 Scholar attending VCU | James Yarborough, Keynote Speaker and 2006 Scholar attending Babson College |
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| Bob Trout of Trout Cacheris and Bob Watkins of Williams & Connolly | Sam Maruca of Miller & Chevalier and Richard Hanks of Renaissance Development |
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| Nina Totenberg | 2006 Fellows |
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| John Olson, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher event host and Michael Lewis, JAMS ADR, Abramson Foundation President |
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| Danielle Clark University of South Florida |
Marcellus Collins Virginia Commonwealth University |
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| Chantayle Watkins Trinity University |
Justine Cortez University of Pittsburgh |
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| Keynote Speaker 2005 Scholar Justin Williams, Morehouse College |
Milton Hernandez Bucknell University |
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| Susan Kidd, NBC-4 and Pamela Massaquoi, Hood College |
Superintendent Clifford Janey with Former Board President Irv Nathan, Arnold & Porter |
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| Long Yang George Mason University |
| FIRST | LAST | H.S. | College |
| Selamawit | Addissie | Cardozo | St. Mary's College of MD |
| Olutosin | Akinyode | Roosevelt | Amherst College |
| Shanice | Barnum | Woodson | Penn State |
| Hua Niao | Chen | Bell | George Mason University |
| Qing Miao | Chen | Bell | James Madison |
| Danielle | Clark | Coolidge | University of South State Florida |
| Marcellus | Collins | Eastern | Virginia CommonwealthPlaceType University |
| Justine | Cortez | Wilson | Univ ofCity Pittsburgh |
| Antwain | Coward | SEED | Case Western Reserve |
| Allison | de Groot | Wilson | Virginia CommonwealthPlaceType University |
| Milton | Hernandez | Bell | Bentley or Bucknell |
| Kamelia | Kirtz | Banneker | Hampton PlaceType University |
| Janeese | Lewis | SWOW | St. John's PlaceType University |
| Pamela | Massaquoi | Roosevelt | Hood PlaceType College |
| Howard | Morris | Dunbar | Hampton PlaceType University |
| Rajaa | Qadri | Friendship Edison | Bucknell |
| Jasmine | Stith | Cardozo | Morgan State |
| Robyn | Tinney | SEED | Temple |
| Chantayle | Watkins | Ballou | Trinity |
| Jeremy | Wilkerson | SEED | Penn PlaceType StateCity Altoona |
| Jeremy | Wood | Cesar Chavez | Penn PlaceType StateCity Altoona |
| Andre | Woods | Dunbar | Penn PlaceType State Berks |
| Long | Yang | Bell | George Mason University |
| James | Yarborough | Roosevelt | Babson College |
| Jian | Zheng | Bell | George Mason University |
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| Eric Angel, Legal Aid Society of D.C.; Barbara Arnwine, Lawyers’ Committee; Dean Shelley Broderick, UDC School of Law | Jameela Donaldson, 2005 Fellow and Carlos Garcia, Abramson Board Member |
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| Irv Nathan, President of the Board of Directors | Vivian Hamilton, Chair of the Fellowship Committee, Irv Nathan, President |
Vivian Hamilton, chair of the Abramson Foundation Fellowship Committee and law professor, notes that “the average salary for public interest lawyers is $32,000, whereas the average loan burden for law students upon graduation is $80,000. The Fellowships, which award between $5,000 and $10,000, recognize the dedication of and sacrifices made by these promising attorneys, and help defray the cost of choosing a position in public interest law.” Barbara Arnwine of the Lawyers’ Committee noted “public interest lawyers are needed just as much today as during the civil rights movement because there are so many individuals and families who do not have a voice in our society and need an advocate to speak for them and their civil rights under law.”