Fishburne Military School BC Earns Leadership Award from DC Federation of Civic Associations

Cadet Major Brian Draper was honored by the DC Federation of Civic Associations with their Outstanding Leadership in Civil Rights Award

Washington, D.C. –  Fishburne Military School’s Battalion Commander, Cadet Brian Draper (Washington, DC) has been named as this year’s recipient of the George H. Richardson “Outstanding Leadership in the Field of Civil Rights Award,” by the DC Federation of Civic Associations (DCFCA). The announcement came as part of the Association’s 85th Annual Awards Celebration and Scholarship Luncheon.

Cadet Draper was nominated by his Scout Master, Ricardo Brooks, for a President’s Award; however, the DCFCA President, Ms. Barbara Morgan, was so impressed with Draper that she recommended him to the Awards Committee for the Civil Rights Award instead.  Morgan explained that she recommended Draper for the higher award largely due to the “diversity of Brian’s experiences, activities, education and achievements [which] have allowed him to set a standard for both himself and others.”

Although Draper could not attend the Awards Luncheon due to ACT testing, he prepared a video-recorded “thank you” for the event in which he notes “I would like to recognize my alma mater Capitol Hill Cluster in Washington DC and my current school, Fishburne Military School which has equipped me with the leadership skills I possess today. It is my desire that other youths from my immediate sphere, as well as my Anacostia community, will be encouraged to strive toward their goals, whatever they might be.”

The main objectives of the Federation are to inform, represent, and support the residents of the District of Columbia. Founded in 1921, it has a 94 year history of service to the neighborhoods of Washington, DC. In 1930 the Federation began granting awards to outstanding leaders from across the city in recognition of their dedicated service and in 1968 it began granting scholarships to graduates of the DC Public Schools. So, the Awards Celebration became an event to benefit the Federation’s scholarship fund.

This year with The Honorable Karl A. Racine, Attorney General of the District of Columbia as keynote speaker, the DCFCA had approximately 225 people in attendance at the Washington Navy Yard Catering and Conference Center. Also in attendance and providing remarks were The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate of the District of Columbia, U.S. House of Representatives and The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor of the District of Columbia. About half of the City Council was also represented in person or by staff, along with about 25 neighborhood associations and their guests.

Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built upon the structure of an Army JROTC program. Boasting a 100% college-acceptance rate for the past 10 consecutive years, FMS has also been designated as a JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction and may nominate qualified candidates to the United States Service Academics. Fishburne hosts one of only four Summer JROTC programs in the nation, accredited by US Army Cadet Command.