Margaret Radiah Shabazz, who goes by her middle name Radiah, is a 2010 graduate of Open High School. During her tenure at Open, Radiah reached the Advanced Placement (AP) level as a junior, taking classes in English Language and Biology. In addition, she has achieved other academic honors to include National Honor Society inductee, outstanding student in Geometry, American Literature and AP Language Awards, Perfect Score on the English/Reading SOL and recipient of the $20,000 Next Generation Venture Fund Scholarship.

Radiah has also participated in several activities over the past 4 years at Open. Her leadership positions include serving as Class Vice-President (12), Vice President of Student Government (9, 10), Fundraising Committee Chairperson (9, 10), Yearbook Editor (11-12), and project leader and organizer for the I AM D.I.V.A Senior Project (12). Other activities include summer internships with the Partnership for the Future and Markel Insurance Company. In addition, she has served as a member and scholarship recipient of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

Radiah’s community service and volunteer efforts include United Parents Against Lead, Richmond Peace Education Center, the Virginia Peoples Assembly, and Shoes for Virginia.

Radiah will say that her greatest strength is writing although she has been repeatedly awarded for her outstanding performance in every academic subject. It is her desire to major in English/Journalism with a minor in business management. Radiah’s desire is to complete both her undergraduate and graduate studies in five years so she can go to an Ivy League school, preferably Yale University, to obtain a Ph.D. in English by age thirty. She would like to begin her career in investigative journalism and work for a major network. She would also like to open up her own publishing company in the future.

Radiah plans to attend Howard University in the fall.