A brilliant Higher Achievement alumnus, Brion Tillman-Young, tragically passed away in a car accident recently at age 27. Brion was bright, charming, energetic Ward 7 Higher Achievement scholar. He went onto the University of Maryland for college and served in the highly selective Honor Guard and as a firefighter in the U.S. Airforce.
Back in 2009, he was selected to represent Higher Achievement when we won an award for humanities education from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities. Brion and I attended a training on just exactly how to accept the award and meet First Lady Michelle Obama. The next day, overjoyed in her presence, Brion ignored the strict rules and sprinted up to the First Lady and gave her a huge hug, which she returned with such warmth. That became the featured photo for the White House. As both a child and adult, he lived with unapologetic joy and love and brilliance. He is deeply missed, and we are holding his mom, Diona, and his sister, Naya, and all who loved him in the light.