Homeless DC teen named valedictorian

June 2,2014
Zaina Kahuk
News Writer
Headlines

Rashema Melson, a homeless high-school senior, is the valedictorian of her class at Anacostia High this year, heading to college with nearly $100,000 in scholarships. Rashema lives in the city’s family homeless shelter in what used to be D.C. General Hospital. She came to the shelter two years ago with her mother and younger siblings. Melson defied all odds by maintaining a 4.1 grade point average and that includes a lot of college prep courses,becoming the valedictorian of her senior class at Anacostia High and will be heading to Georgetown University this fall on a full scholarship.