The College Board National Recognition Programs have awarded Homewood High School students Calista Armstead, Keon Davis and Emmanuella Erhumwunsee the National African American Recognition Award and Leonardo Hernandez the National Hispanic Recognition Award. The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to high-performing, underrepresented students. The five national recognition programs include the National African American Recognition Program, National First-Generation Recognition Program (beginning in 2024), National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program. These awards are earned by students taking the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 or AP exams and scoring high enough for consideration. Here, award recipient Leonardo Hernandez details his gratitude for his community and for winning such a high honor.
What was your reaction to winning the National Hispanic Recognition Award?
I was surprised and happy to win! I didn’t know I would be considered.
What does it mean to you to have won such a prestigious award and represent your community?
I am proud and honored to represent my community. Where I come from means so much to me.
What are you involved with at both your school and in the Homewood community?
Since moving to Homewood from Guatemala in 2023, I have played in the community soccer league. I also joined the Homewood math team. This year, I joined the track team as well as started playing on the ultimate frisbee team. In spring 2024, I also competed in the Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair and won the first place award in the physics category. I was also selected to represent Alabama in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the UAB CORD Summer Science Institute, where I completed an eight-week internship with a physics faculty mentor and presented the research at a poster competition.
How would you like to better your community–the people who have poured into you?
I love Guatemala for its beautiful nature and culture that makes it so unique. It also, unfortunately, has a lot of social problems and poverty. I want to better my community through science to make it a more sustainable and equal country.
How have your teachers at Homewood High School prepared you for your future?
My teachers have been very helpful to me in writing recommendations and supporting my interests, especially my physics teacher Mr. Helf, who has always taught his subject with enthusiasm and encouraged me in my ambitions. After high school, I plan to study condensed matter physics.
