Valley Stream Central High School Senior Solomon Akaeze has been selected to take part in Columbia Law School’s High School Law Institute for the fall semester. For the next few months, Solomon will spend his Saturdays studying the fundamentals of law—including due process, mens rea, double jeopardy and the identification of elements of a statute.
Solomon became interested in law after entering into activism in 2020, and he has dedicated himself to helping people in disadvantaged communities. Law, he said, is another avenue to accomplish that. “What better act is there than to become a criminal defense lawyer to help others who might not know the ins-and-outs of the system they’re being put through,” he said. “I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see where this leads me.”
“He’s very active within the school and the community,” said Solomon’s guidance counselor Samantha Cipriano. “He’s been involved in groups such as the Black Student Union and Students Committed to Social Justice, and he has dedicated himself to seeking positive change for other members of the community.”
“Solomon embodies Central’s culture of high expectations,” said Central Principal Dr. Joseph Pompilio. “He is an outstanding young man who pursues educational opportunities with vigor and determination. His greatest attribute is self-reflection, a trait which has propelled him to be a leader and role model.”
For more information about the Valley Stream Central High School District, please visit the District’s website at https://www.vschsd.org/, and like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyStreamCentralHighSchoolDistrict
Solomon Akaeze