Action Items

• Reflect on Black History Month: Check out our February roundup of school-led programs. Learn more about the Martin Luther King. Jr. Memorial Library’s Green Book exhibit, as explored by our Advanced Internship Program (AIP) interns.
  
  
• Sign up as a volunteer to support our students this winter at the CTSO Leadership Conference on March 11. 
  
  
• Ten teams brought their A-game and spirit to the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic courts for the Destination DC (DDC) Member Volleyball Tournament. Thanks to your support we raised over $3,500 for AEF’s programs. 
  
  
• Join us for the July 4th VIP Celebration, 7-10 p.m. and enjoy the best view of the fireworks at the American Pharmacists Association Potomac View Terrace.  

Last month, students across the city celebrated Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month through career exploration field trips, in-classroom resume reviews, mock interviews and other career preparation activities.

The work continues in March. You can volunteer and support scholars as they prepare for summer internships:

• Ballou High School conducted a Men in CTE Panel featuring tourism professionals across the city
• Roosevelt High School hosted workshops to prepare for DC ProStart
• Coolidge High School featured a Black History Month Media Showcase
• Jackson-Reed High School explored the power of LinkedIn 
• River Terrace Education Campus hosted SkillsUSA week
  
  

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AEF’s AIP interns from Coolidge, Jackson-Reed and Ballou High Schools have been diving into new projects this season. They’ve been conducting interviews with industry partners, practicing their presentation skills and leading workshops at Destination DC (DDC) events.   

This January, Yovanna Ortiz-Cotto led a small group at the Sustainability Roundtables for DDC Sustainability District members.  

"The Sustainability Roundtable was a great, laid-back opportunity to speak with professionals in DC who are committed to learning about sustainability in tourism, which relates to my own career goals in the environmental sciences. As a moderator, I got to guide discussions and take notes on the ideas explored in my group. Everyone at my table was engaged and excited to learn, which made the event that much more fun!"

Yovanna Ortiz-Cotto, Jackson-Reed High School ‘25  

The interns honored Black History Month through tourism visiting Sycamore and Oak, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Experience the tour of MLK Library’s Green Book exhibit through the eyes of Shamiyah McGee, Coolidge High School ‘25.  

Thank you to all the participants and pep rally members who joined us for the 2025 DDC Member Volleyball Tournament at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  

Every year, in partnership with Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic, AEF hosts this industry tournament to raise funds for work-based learning, internship and scholarship programs. Thanks to your support, we raised over $3,500!

Congratulations to our winners: 

1st Place 🥇 Freeman  

2nd  Place 🥈The Lore Group  

3rd Place 🥉Events DC   

A special thank you to our partners Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic, Events DC, Aramark, LINK Strategic Partners and The Headliner Group. 

Forty students from Ballou High School’s Academies of Auto Tech along with Jackson-Reed’s Academy of Mass Media, attended the Washington DC Auto Show for Career Day on Feb. 5.  

They spent the day exploring the show floor, engaging with industry leaders, discovering educational resources and learning about career opportunities in the automotive sector. 

Thank you to our long-time partners, the Washington New Area Automobile Dealers Association and the Washington Auto Show, for providing these incredible experiences for students. 

Celebrate Independence Day with AEF at the annual VIP rooftop celebration and fundraiser on July 4, from 7-10 p.m. at the American Pharmacists Association. Your ticket directly supports scholarships and work-based learning for DC high school students. 

• Enjoy great food, drinks and family-friendly fun.
• Experience DC’s spectacular fireworks from a private rooftop.
• Sponsor the event to showcase your company’s support or donate a prize to our annual raffle and auction.
  
  

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