Portraits of Success

Lijah Naomi Smith 2005

Lijah Naomi Smith spent thirteen years in Alexandria City Public Schools, from kindergarten at George Mason to T.C. Williams.  She praises the ACPS program that "cultivates high scholastic and ethical standards, promotes unity and friendship among diverse populations, and helps at-risk and low income youth improve their opportunities by preparing them for college life."

Naomi gives credit to her teachers and a dedicated mother "for helping me to become a well-rounded student who would become the first in my family to graduate from college."  Additional support came to her from Project Discovery Coordinator Suzanne Kratzok who inspired her to pursue a college education.

With a first-year scholarship and renewal awards from The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, Naomi attended Radford University and earned a B.A. in Communications in 2003.

She works for Networking & Engineering Technologies, Inc. as a Deputy Supervisor for the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration Field Report Notation Project, and still finds time to give back to her hometown.  Naomi coaches cheerleading at Ramsey Recreation Center, volunteers with the City of Alexandria's Office on Women Domestic Violence Program, is a member of the Board of Project Discovery, and volunteers for the Holiday Sharing Program coordinated by Ms. Kratzok.  Naomi says, "Each time Ms. Kratzok spearheads a project I feel obligated to reciprocate the time, attention, and inspiration that she has given to me."

Naomi proudly returns to "L.A." (Little Alexandria) to share her valued experiences while she is pursuing an MBA degree at the University of Maryland, University College.

T.C. Williams Class of 1999
B.A., Radford University, 2003

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