D.C. CAPital Stars Take To The Stage

By Jessica Gould

Tonight, 10 of the District’s most talented teens will compete for thousands of dollars in college scholarship money.

Brittany Timmons is a senior at McKinley Technology High School in Northeast D.C. She says she’s got a lot on her mind these days.

"Knowing that I’m going off to college. That things are just changing," says Timmons.

That’s why Timmons can’t stop singing this song.

"I am changing," she sings. "Trying every way I can. I am changing. And I’ll be better than I am."

Tonight, Timmons will compete in the D.C. CAPital Stars Talent Contest. Think American Idol for adolescents.

Argelia Rodriguez is director of the D.C. College Access Program, the organization that sponsors the event.

"We decided to celebrate the talent that’s in the schools that a lot of people don’t know about," says Rodriguez.

Rodriguez started the program 11 years ago, when only 30 percent of D.C. seniors enrolled in college.

"It’s really almost an indoctrination process," she says. "You can do it. You can do it. You can do it. And we’ll be there to help you do it."

Now, Rodriguez says, 62 percent of District seniors enroll in college. And the group has given out millions of dollars in scholarships. Tonight, it will hand out thousands more. Timmons says she’d love to win. But she’s just happy to participate.