DANNY RIVAS
Junior, Gaithersburg High School
In 2012, English teacher Brett Morales turned to then-freshman Danny Rivas for help in reducing the alarmingly high number of Latino boys who drop out of Gaithersburg High School. “He was a stellar student, extremely diligent, extremely focused,” Morales says.
With Morales’ guidance, Danny and 14 other students formed a club named “Poder,” which translates in English to “power” and “to be able to.” Members hold twice-weekly study halls after school, tutoring each other as needed. During weekly lunchtime meetings, Poder students participate in leadership workshops, team-building exercises and discussions on topics such as stereotypes.
Danny, now 16, realized that students need help with decision-making before they reach high school, so he helped Poder establish weekly mentoring for middle school students in Gaithersburg. He also designed a Poder T-shirt to unify the group, and created a quarterly newsletter on Poder’s happenings for community business leaders who fund field trips to local colleges and other projects. Danny also tutors and mentors classmates who are studying English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Morales says the Gaithersburg teen has been a consistent leader in the 45-member club. “Danny has a tenacious work ethic, responsibility well beyond what you would expect from his years, and is a leader by example,” Morales says. “He’s the backbone for the group.”
It’s difficult to quantify Poder’s success, but Morales says students who’ve stayed with the group through senior year have graduated, and he’s seen positive change among those involved.
Danny, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in the 1990s, takes several honors classes and hopes to study business at the University of Maryland, College Park. Through Poder, he’s gained friends, leadership skills and confidence.
“When I came into high school, I was really shy,” Danny says. “Poder helped me develop social skills. And I’ve improved my speaking skills. Having the opportunity to go to different presentations and talking in front of people has helped me significantly.”
Photos by Michael Ventura
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