For Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School student Samuel Washington Jr., he hoped his athletic gifts and abilities and strong academic record could one day lead to being a student-athlete at an Ivy League school.
Consider it done!
Washington Jr. accepted a full-ride scholarship to attend and play football at Dartmouth College, a renowned Ivy League institution in Hanover, New Hampshire, educating leaders since 1769.
“I know I’ll be able to push my academic level to an even-higher standard,” said Samuel, who plans to study accounting while playing defensive back on the football team. “They have a big, winning football program. They have won a lot of championships,” he added, noting that several other Ivy League schools recruited him to play football.
As for winning championships, Samuel will bring a level of expertise to the Big Green, Dartmouth’s nickname, as he was part of two King state championship football teams in 2021 (Division 3) and last season (2022) in Division 4. While excelling at defensive back, he also spent time as a wide receiver and served as the backup quarterback, even scoring a touchdown this season. An athlete and example of academic excellence, Samuel serves as the president of the National Honor Society at King, he attributes his success to his parents, Mr. and Ms. Washington as well as DPSCD’s student-first focus on being loved, challenged, and prepared.
“Being a King Crusader, you are part of a big family,” said Samuel. “You never feel left out, and you get lots of opportunities here at school to take advantage of. The staff here really cares, and I [have] felt welcomed here.”
The caring staff also includes his coaches, Samuel also plays for King’s varsity boys basketball team that is preparing for the state tournament this week. He says his coaches go beyond the x’s and o’s to help him grow and they model what it is to be a man.
“On and off the field, they have been teaching me the in’s and out of life,” he said with a smile. “Some coaches only care about winning. Here at King, the coaches make sure you are representing King right, representing your parents right and they help you to become a better version of yourself.”
As you have read, King has an award-winning athletics program, an award-winning internationally acclaimed dance program, a chess/robotics team, a marching band and much more. Martin Luther King Jr. Sr. High School supports our students as they go on to become legendary. As one of DPSCD’s Examination High Schools, the Round 2 application window is open.
For more information, how to apply to King and the other DPSCD Examination High Schools, please click here. This is an example of how DPSCD are supporting rising legends.
DPSCD, Be Legendary!
