The Board of Education honored five students on Tuesday, May 8, for their accomplishments in academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility, which are the focus areas of the school system's master plan.

Honored were Aashka Patel, fifth grade, T.C. Martin Elementary School; Lauren O'Neil, fifth grade, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School; Tolani Olaosebikan, fifth grade, Mary B. Neal Elementary School; Emily Rawson, eighth grade, Mattawoman Middle School; and Shannon Gravette, senior, North Point High School.

Patel was honored in the area of academic achievement. She is enrolled in pre-algebra and maintains high grades. Patel is described by her teachers as a student with an excellent attitude towards learning and serves as a respectable role model for other students. She is a strong writer, is bilingual and has a great understanding of cultural diversity. Patel is a member of the school math and Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) teams, the LEGO Robotics club, yearbook committee and safety patrol.

O'Neil was honored in the area of academic achievement. She has earned straight A's this school year and received advanced scores on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) in reading and math. O'Neil was also chosen as a winner in the mission patch design competition as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments program. Her patch design will be on the next mission to the International Space Station. She is also a member of the school's green team and participates in the community's 4-H club.

Olaosebikan was honored in the area of personal responsibility. She excels at each task and challenge handed to her and earned straight A's throughout the fifth grade. She serves as a role model for her peers and strives to help her classmates. Olaosebikan is the captain of Neal's safety patrol and is a student ambassador. She is also a member of the school's MESA and math teams, all-county band and athletic club.

Rawson was honored in the area of academic achievement. She has maintained a 4.0 grade-point-average throughout middle school. Rawson serves in leadership roles in several school clubs and groups and strives to maintain honor roll grades. She works hard and demonstrates pride in the classroom. Rawson always put forth her best effort in the classroom and serves as a role model for her peers.

Gravette was honored in the area of career readiness. He has a cumulative grade-point-average of 4.3 and demonstrates maturity, responsibility and professionalism in his interactions with his teachers and peers. His teachers say that he is eager to learn and always puts forth his best effort in the classroom. Gravette plans to become an aerospace engineer and is enrolled in North Point's engineering program. He also takes several Advanced Placement classes to prepare himself for college-level coursework.

The Board honors several students each month for their accomplishments.

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 caring community schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646; (301) 932-6610/870-3814. For special accommodations call (301) 934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.