Awards & Accomplishments
2008-2009
Awards 2007-2008
Dawit Zewdie Makes Like Einstein: Solves Physics Problem, Gets Published
Einstein science teacher Eric Kearsley recently decided that, just for fun, he would give his AP physics class of mostly seniors a problem that was so difficult, he "would never put a problem like this on a test."
The scenario about an airborne rock and its flight time came from a national educators publication, which contains a monthly "physics challenge" that usually draws responses from high school and college teachers.
Senior Dawit Zewdie, a student in Kearsley's class, solved the head-scratcher before his teacher did.
"I think I could have solved it, but he beat me to it." said Kearsley.
The December issue of "The Physics Teacher" lists Zewdie and one other student from Texas among nine problem-solvers from around the world, including Asia, Portugal, Australia and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
"He's the first student at Einstein who has successfully solved it, and gotten his name published," said Kearsley, who's taught here for four years.
Zewdie, a native of Ethiopia, enrolled at Einstein his freshman year and said physics has been his favorite subject through high school.
"I liked how you can use common sense to solve a problem," said Zewdie, a slender, soft-spoken 17-year-old who's a leading athlete on the school's track and cross country teams.
However, Zewdie also possesses a solid knowledge of gravitational law, which came in handy for his work on the September challenge in "The Physics Teacher." His calculations filled three pages during the two weeks he noodled over the problem.
Zewdie is aiming for a career as an electrical or aeronautical engineer. With a GPA that hovers around 3.9 and a course load heavy on IB and AP courses, Zewdie is looking at universities that include MIT, Virginia Tech and Stanford University. He is a semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which presents awards to outstanding African American students.
In the meantime, Zewdie has neatly printed the December challenge from "The Physics Teacher" in his notebook. Complete with diagram, it's a daunting puzzle about mass, force, friction and "small-amplitude oscillations," also known as harmonic motion.
"I'm still working on it," said Zewdie, who's continuing the effort even though his physics class hasn't yet studied harmonic motion.
AEHS Physics Team Scores Well in Countywide Competition
Albert Einstein students made a distinguished showing in a countywide physics competition on Sat. Nov. 22 that had students constructing devices such as wind-powered vehicles and laboring over physics problems in timed events at Wootton High School.
A team of Titan students in grades 9 -- 12 captured two second-place prizes and three third-place prizes at the Final Frontiers Compeition in their best showing since Einstein began participating in the event four years ago.
"The kids got into it and had a good time," said Einstein physics teacher Eric Kearsley. The competition is sponsored by the Maryland Space Business Roundtable and the Maryland Space Grant Consortium in an effort to encourage students to pursue careers in engineering and aerospace.
The students who participated were freshmen Marie Claire Alde, Lorena Gogin, Sam Keating, Samantha Ritchie, Nick Stevens, Danny Stouffer, Nadia Turner; sophomores Carlyle Craig and Tim Padilla; juniors David Amaya, Shaun Flynn and Nghi Doan Le; and seniors Cheong Chan, Joanne Connelley, Ben Eicher, Josh Zastrow and Dawit Zewdie.
Eicher and Zastrow took second place in a competition to construct a device, using limited supplies, that retrieved objects from the middle of a table.
The entire team took second place in the "mystery event," that presented it with a challenge at the event to build a device with limited time and materials for a specific task.
Turner and Keating took third place for a lightweight wooden bridge. Chan and Le won third place for constructing a paper arm that could lift a weight. Connelley, Padilla and Zewdie took third place for solving space-related problems dealing with Newton's laws of physics.
Carolina Pelaez Wins Washington Post Scholarship
Einstein senior Carolina Pelaez, a student in the Visual and Peforming Arts Academy, has received a $2,000 award from The Washington Post Music and Dance Scholarship Program.
Pelaez is one of 12 Washington area students selected from more than 150 applicants for the scholarships, created in 2002 and with major corporate funding from The Post, Freddie Mac, and Washington Gas.
Pelaez joined other scholarship applicants and teenage performers on stage at the Warner Theatre in downtown Washington on Saturday, Nov. 22. After the teenagers gave a spirited performance, the show's organizers announced the scholarship winners.
"I wasn't expecting anything," said Pelaez. "It was very exciting."
Pelaez, the only Einstein student to apply for the scholarship, submitted an essay, grades transcript and a two-minute DVD performance of a contemporary Christian song, "No Greater Love," in her application for the scholarship.
Earlier this year, Pelaez was one of three Einstein seniors to receive a Maryland Distinguished Scholars award, good for up to $12,000 over four years if awardees study at a Maryland university. Pelaez is considering studies in vocal music and psychology at the University of Maryland College Park and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Pelaez is the daughter of Ruben Pelaez, a piano instructor, and Bibiana Borroto, a Spanish interpreter and musician. The Einstein senior said she's also pursuing scholarships through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
"There's a lot of stuff out there," Pelaez said of her search. "I tell all my friends you just got to look."
Students Receive Scholarship Recognition and Awards
A group of Einstein seniors recently has received scholarship offers and recognition for achievement in competitive state and national scholarship programs.
The seniors' recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program, the Natinal Achievement Scholarship Program and Maryland Distinguished Scholars Program came from individual auditions and from their performance on the Preliminary SAT their junior year.
Three students enrolled in Einstein's Visual and Performing Arts Academy have been named eligible to receive scholarships worth up to $12,000 to attend a Maryland college or university under the state's Distinguished Scholars program. They are Malika Cherifi for drama, Carolina Pelaez for vocal music and Eliot Seppa for instrumental music. They are among 372 students selected from 5,000 applicants statewide to receive scholarship offers as finalists.
Fourteen other Einstein students were named semifinalists or received an honorable mention under the state program. They were recognized for earning cumulative GPA's of 3.7 or better. Three were recognized for their talent in the visual arts, and another for instrumental music.
They are Danielle Ceneta, Sarah Chan, Ana Coello, Joanne Conelley, Alex Curro, Kelsey DeVries, Mary Claire Erskine, Sarah Hyman, Yueting Lei, Georgia Maclean, Kaitlin McCully, Anna McGrady, Abraham Murrell, and Dawit Zewdie.
Einstein's three awardees in the Maryland Distinguished Scholars program prepared pieces that they performed before a panel of judges this summer.
"They took it upon themselves and really rolled with it," said Delmer Padgett, head of the academy. He said they were students "who could easily handle such challenges."
Pelaez, a four-year member of the arts academy and a member of the school's Honors Chambers group, grew up in a musical household. Her father is a concert pianist and private instructor, and her mother is a concert guitarist and sings. Her father provided the musical accompaniment for Pelaez' audition this summer.
"I've always been singing since I was little," she said. "I did it just for fun."
Although Pelaez is considering a private college in Pennsylvania, she said it is likely she will accept the state scholarship to study voice at the University of Maryland.
"It's my first choice," she said. Cherifi and Seppa have not decided on college plans, according to Padgett.
Senior Dawit Zewdie has been notified of his outstanding participation in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, a 44-year-old competition that honors high-achieving African American students. Select participants drawn from 150,000 entrants advance in the competition for scholarships that will be awarded in the spring of 2009. The awards are based on academic achievement, accomplishments and skills.
In addition, eight Titan seniors have received recognition as commended students under the National Merit Scholarship Program. The 53-year-old scholarship program annually draws 1.5 million entrants, with 34,000 qualifying as commended students. Commended students often become candidates for scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
Einstein's commended students are Alexandre Comas, Joanne Conelley, Mary Claire Erskine, Tracey Gearhart, Georgia Handforth, Heather Hillis, Sarah Kronheim and Kaitlin McCully.