Kwame Sarfo-Mensah
IDTALK4ED LIVE Episode #5 - "The Transformative Power of the Student Voice" (Cecil Price III)
In this special episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, we want to focus on the transformative power of the student voice and how it can help shape the future of public education in America and beyond. For this conversation, we invited Cecil Price III, who is currently a senior and the Student Body President at the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies in Pittsburgh, PA. He also serves at the President of the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ African American Center for Advanced Studies (AACAS) Executive Committee. During the conversation, Cecil shares about the personal impact that Barack Obama Academy has had on him academically, his perspective on the experiences of students of color in Pittsburgh Public Schools, the important of student activism, and so much more!
You can connect with Cecil on the following social media platforms:
Facebook - Cecil Price III
Instagram - @cecilprice3rd
BIO:
Cecil Price, III is a senior and the Student Body President of the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies where he prides himself on being a conscientious, civically, and socially engaged student, brother, son, and friend. With his continuous involvement in the lives of students and the community at large, he has been given the title of Student Ambassador. Accompanied by this title, he has had many leadership roles to help advocate for student voice.
Cecil is the President of the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ African American Centers for Advanced Studies (AACAS) Executive Committee, whose mission is to be a beacon of support, encouragement, and advocacy for the AACAS Council (African American gifted and talented high school students) in maintaining academic, social, and emotional excellence while building balanced identities of self, confidence, and competence.
For his exceptional scholarship, extraordinary leadership and remarkable character, he received the Outstanding Young Citizens Award in 2019. He is also the Youth Director and Drummer of the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, a member of the National Honor Society and Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens, Student Leader of both the Journey to Medicine and YMCA Youth and Government programs, and an Educator at the Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School. Due to his ongoing engagement with the Urban Academy’s faculty and student body, he was given the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018. Cecil’s astounding academic record includes maintaining a 4.62 GPA, the completion of International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and receiving the Academic Excellence Award in 2018.
While continuing his work in various academic and social fields, his most impactful work has been done as a guest speaker at the State of Black Learning Conference, the Summer Leadership Academy, the 6th Annual SCW Foundation Benefit Gala, Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, the Tickets for Kids 25th Anniversary, and the 2019 CAS Expo of Excellence. By speaking at these events, Cecil has been a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem. He has also been featured in several media platforms like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Magazine, Trib Total Media, 90.5 WESA Radio, WPXI, and JET 24 Action News, where his own platform has made room for other students to emulate and to be encouraged that their current state is not their final fate.