Day: June 13, 2021

Overlea/Sollers HS Grad Named Young Woman of the Year


Michelle Sobambo, a 2021 graduate of Overlea High School, has been named Baltimore County’s Young Woman of the Year. She will be honored by Baltimore County government and its Commission for Women during the 39th Annual Woman of the Year Awards Ceremony, which will be a virtual event, held on Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m.

“Michelle Sobambo is a hardworking and dedicated student committed to her educational future,” said Dr. Monica Sample, principal of Overlea High. “Michelle is a natural leader and role model to others. Michelle selflessly and willingly serves her community and is always looking to contribute to the global society in a positive way.”

“Through her outstanding academic performance, student leadership, and community service, Michelle Sobambo brings honor to her family, her schools, and all of Baltimore County Public Schools,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Her example challenges all students to pursue their areas of interest and find ways to contribute and lead.”

At Overlea High, Sobambo was a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honors Society, African Students Association, World Language Club, Girls Who Code, varsity soccer team, varsity softball team, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), and the Allied Bowling Team. In addition, she attended Sollers Point Technical High School as a member of the selective Academy of Health Professionals program, with a specialty in anatomy and physiology. At Sollers, she earned nursing assistant certification and was a member of the National Technical Honors Society. She expects to become certified as a pharmacy technician by August.

As president of the Overlea High Student Government Association, Sobambo coordinated the schoolwide One Love outreach campaign (to educate students about relationship abuse), the Angel Tree program (for helping the less fortunate during the holiday season), a project to assist animals living in animal shelters, and the Let’s Read book donation and guest reader program. Under her leadership, Overlea’s Student Government Association won the highest BCPS honor awarded for overall student council effectiveness, the Superintendent’s Cup.

Beyond Overlea High, Sobambo was a member of the Baltimore County Student Councils’ Board of Selected Students and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council; has attended county and statewide leadership training; teaches Sunday school at House of Praise Baltimore; and volunteers at the Rosedale branch of Baltimore County Public Library.

Casanova Wins East Balt Co Scholarship


Congratulations to recent Patapsco High Center for the Arts graduate Joaquin Casanova who was named our East Balt Co News scholarship winner for the 2020-21 school year.

Casanova was selected by the school and was awarded the scholarship by EastBaltCo.com.

EastBaltco awards a scholarship to a student that has ambitions for a career in media. Casanova is the fourth winner for the Benstorming/East Balt Co News scholarship since 2017.

Casanova will be headed to the University of Cincinnati to study media production starting next year. He was also involved with the theatre department at the school and said his time at Patapsco was a valuable experience.

“Patapsco has prepared me for the future through the skills I learned in the theatre department but more importantly it has given me the confidence to succeed in new situations and interact with new people,” Casanova said.

According to Casanova, he was only at the school for two years, but said he was welcomed to the school with opening arms.

I’d say that my memories of Patapsco are of late nights working on theatre shows and studying with others before exams,” Casanova added. “Beyond that what really stuck with me was how quickly the students accepted me even though I only arrived in junior year.”