Local High School Student Receives National Award

JOHNSTON COUNTY – Christopher Patino Mancera, a student at West Johnston High School, has received the national Alexander Hamilton Scholar Award for superior community service and academic achievement.

Hamilton Awards are given annually by the Alexander Hamilton Scholars (AHS) organization of Seattle, Washington. Their vision is to preserve Alexander Hamilton’s legacy by building leaders of character who improve the nation and the world through their service, innovation, and excellence. Hamilton Scholars is named for Alexander Hamilton, the only founding father born into poverty. As a result of mentorship, guidance, and a scholarship to attend college, Hamilton was able to leave a lasting legacy that forever changed the United States. With AHS’ support, their Scholars strive to do the same.

Christopher is one of only 26 students selected for the award. The purpose of the Hamilton Award is to recognize high school students for their academic, personal, service, and entrepreneurial accomplishments and to select students for the Hamilton Leadership Program. Winners are high-achieving, service-oriented, high school juniors who embody Hamiltonian principles of leadership and character.

“This year, the award was very competitive. AHS received almost 800 applications from incredible young people across the nation,” said George T. Cox, Founder and Senior Advisor of Alexander Hamilton Scholars. “Our goal is to identify young people who have set high standards for citizenship and success in their lives. We are very excited about Christopher’s potential for future greatness.”

One thing that sets Hamilton Scholars apart from other college and career training programs is a curriculum that encourages Scholars to think about how they engage with the world, what social impact they want to have, and how they can be leaders of their communities going forward. AHS provides their Scholars with practical skills for college success and valuable professional connections, but Scholars also spend their time contemplating how they can impact the world and make positive change. The program asks Scholars to consider the question, how can they use their own exceptional talents to be of greater service? At the completion of the program, Hamilton Scholars will be equipped to not only achieve their personal and professional goals, but to also change the world as the next innovative leaders of the nation.