Going to a magnet school can make a big difference in a student’s life and future – just ask the student ambassadors who call Hanes Magnet School home.
Fawaz Adeyiga and Ellis Redwine are both part of Hanes’ student ambassador program, which means they serve as the face of the school for community members at magnet events. They’ll be at this year’s magnet showcase, which takes place on Saturday, October 31 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, to speak with prospective students and their families about what Hanes can do for them.
Student ambassador is just one of many hats these students wear, however. They also hold roles in their chapter of the STEM-focused Technology Student Association, Crosby Scholars, Project Lead the Way, and the school chorus. Their magnet school experience has been defined by lots of opportunities to get involved, and they’ve made the most of them.
Adeyiga says that he expected Hanes to offer a standard middle school experience when he first enrolled, but he was pleasantly surprised by how much more rigorous it turned out to be. His goal is to become a pediatrician, and he values the advanced science curriculum he gets to take through the school’s Highly Academically Gifted program. He feels that the experiential nature of these classes is preparing him to succeed in applied sciences.
“We do way more hands on stuff and experiments than I was thinking,” Adeyiga said. “It’s really cool.”
Redwine, an aspiring biomedical engineer, also appreciates the academic challenge Hanes offers, whether it’s through engineering exercises in PLTW or developing language skills in her Latin class. She says that not only is the content more advanced than she expected, but the way classes are conducted also fosters greater critical thinking. She enjoys the feeling of getting into a deep discussion with her classmates about complicated topics and figuring out answers they wouldn’t have expected at first.
“I never really knew about debate or Socratic seminars before, but I really like those,” Redwine says. “It helps you to really think about things in a deeper way.”
Adeyiga and Redwine also agree that community is one of their school’s biggest selling points. They share their classes with other scholars who are passionate about their fields, and their teachers are enthusiastic about helping them when they don’t understand something. They feel like they’re a part of something bigger because they go to Hanes, especially when they get to share their experiences with other students considering joining them.
“It feels really good to be a part of it,” Adeyiga said. “I love my school and I love my teachers.”
“It feels good to know that our voices are being heard and that we can help make sure that everyone here feels supported,” Redwine added.
Hanes Principal Justin Marckel says his student ambassadors are indicative of a thriving school culture. He’s proud to see them succeed in their studies and get closer to their goals, and he’s just as proud to see them getting invested in their classmates’ efforts to do the same.
“Not only are these some very accomplished students, but they also care so much about helping others,” Marckel said. “They’re a perfect representation of what we’re trying to grow here.”