Three Valley High School students have been selected to receive the Martin Luther King Day Youth Scholarship, sponsored by the city of West Des Moines, West Des Moines Human Rights Commission and West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes students for their contributions in promoting peace and understanding; diversity, equity and inclusion; and for improving communication and cooperation between diverse populations in the city of West Des Moines and the West Des Moines school district.
Award winners are:
  • Mayada Alwan, a Valley junior. Alwan is a founding member of Valley’s new student organization, RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Student Embassy). She also is involved in CORE (Community of Racial Equity) and the World Culture’s Club.
  • Raneen Rheem, a Valley senior. Rheem is a founding member of RISE and is involved in CORE. She also has participated in the Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp.
  • Nickolas Dacre, a Valley senior. He is the president and co-facilitator of Key Club and CORE. He also was involved in the creation of an anti-hate speech policy at Valley.
The students will each receive $665 and a matching $665 contribution to a nonprofit group of their choice. Supporters of the youth award include IMT Insurance, Sammons Financial Corp., Lonnie Dafney, MidAmerican Energy Co. and the chamber.