Effie Odhiambo, a girl from Siaya, Kenya has joined the United States’ National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).
NSHSS is a distinguished academic honor society, committed to recognizing and serving the highest-achieving student scholars in more than 26,000 high schools across 170 countries.
With access to valuable resources and a network of more than two million exceptional peers spanning high school to college and career, NSHSS scholars embody academic dedication and outstanding leadership in their schools, workplaces, and communities.
Membership to NSHSS comes with several opportunities such scholarships, international trips abroad and career mentorship with partner organizations.
Family
Effie is the daughter of USA based Data Scientist Pius Odhiambo and Registered Nurse (RN) Rose Otanga.
Before relocating to the United States Mr Odhiambo was a high school teacher with Teachers Service Commission of Kenya while Ms Otanga was a civilian administrator with the Kenya Police.
Both Mr Odhiambo and Ms Otanga hail from Siaya county in Western.
“This is a great honour to us as a family, and we are proud of her,” said Mr Odhiambo.
Effie migrated with her parents to the United States of America at the age of six, and was admitted to pre -school at Calverton Elementary School in Beltsville, Maryland.
After graduating from the school at Primary 5, she joined Grace Brethren Christian School in Clinton, Maryland for two years.
She was later transferred to Benjamin Banneker Middle School in Montgomery county, Maryland.
After one year she graduated from the middle school and joined Paint Branch High School in the neigbourhood.
Vice President
She is currently a senior at the school and serves as the Vice President of students’ organization with Montgomery public Schools System in Maryland.
She is set graduate from high school next year and intends to pick up a career in law.
Effie, on June 27, 2022 she received an invitation to NSHSS and upon registration she was admitted to the organization as life member.
This summer she will spend her time doing internship with Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) advocating for the rights of the minority, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Earlier she has been on internship with MOCO championing for the protection of the environment.
Effie is an Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student with Montgomery Public School system.