Branden Asemah, a senior, is an award-winning wordsmith with an ambition to be a journalist. Writing is his passion. He has served as a reporter for the Teen Appeal the last three years. In this capacity, he interviewed city officials and powerbrokers, trying to keep young people informed of the local political climate. He was selected from students across the nation to attend J-Camp, a six-day workshop designed to identify and train high school students, who want to pursue careers in journalism. The curriculum consisted of interactive workshops, hands-on training and field trips.

Branden is vice president of the National Honor Society, holding a 4.3 weighted grade point average. He is a scholarship recipient of the Memphis Rotary Prep School Program, which sponsored his attending Choate Rosemary Hall Preparatory School during the summer. While there, Branden received the highest marks possible in Public Speaking, Journalism and World Issues.

He also received the Memphis City Schools William H. Sweet Award for Academic Excellence. He is currently enrolled in nine hours of college classes through the University of Memphis and Southwest Tennessee Community College. Those classes include English, Economics and American National Government. As president of the senior class, Branden drafts proposals for fundraisers and school programming.

One of his proposals helped establish "Dress Up Fridays," and another reinstated the students' desire for a graduation trip to Disney's Grad Nite in Orlando, Fla. Branden was a peer tutor this past spring. He also has participated in Bridge Builders and is part of the Youth United Way Program. He has volunteered more than 200 hours with Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and Baptist Hospital. He is president of the Shelby Farms Youth Alliance, a youth empowerment leadership program. He organized more than 70 teenagers to plant trees and shrubs in celebration of Earth Day.

Source: http://web.commercialappeal.com/allstars/archive38.html