DC-CAPITAL Stars!
Last night we went to the 7th Annual DC-CAPITAL Stars at The Kennedy Center, the DC College Access Program's (DC-CAP) largest fundraiser.
We snapped Mayor Muriel Bowser and newly appointed DC-CAP Board chair, Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis and his wife, Lynn. DC-CAP is a private nonprofit organization that helps DC students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college.
DC-CAP CEO Argelia Rodriguez, Amanda Bennett, Amanda's husband, DC-CAP's founding chairman and Graham Holdings' CEO Don Graham, and DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson. The program emphasized DC-CAP's successes: Since its founding, it's doubled the number of DC public and public charter high school students enrolling in college and tripled graduation rates.
The night concluded with a reception and a live band. Here, Graham Holdings' Tim O'Shaughnessy, SocialCode's Laura O'Shaughnessy, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School's Aaron Stallworth, Hill staffer Shayne Wells and DC Deputy Mayor Jennifer Niles.
DC-CAPITAL Stars showcases the dynamic artistic abilities of DC public and public charter high school students with the goals of promoting college and awarding scholarships.
Throughout the talent competition, a panel of celebrity judges and the audience votes for the grand prize winner of a $10k college scholarship. We snapped celebrity judge, musician Mark Rivera, flanked by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Izmira Santiago and Sarah Baudar.