HRA senior receives Harry F. Byrd award

Entrepreneurship is a major part of Salonee’s life. While volunteering in a hospital, Salonee noticed that when there’s an emergency and medical information was needed from a patient, the process to transfer that information was wasting valuable time. This observation motivated her to create the Medical ID (MID), which is a technology-based medical information system with software that obtains a person’s medical information quickly instead of waiting on slower information transferring systems. Her technology, which includes the software, database and terminal processor, are currently going through Beta testing. A number of hospitals are working to adopt her MID technology system once it is fully HIPPA approved and Beta tested. She plans to continue to work on her business in the future.

Salonee also has a love of music and is an accomplished violinist. She entered “The American Protégé International Music Talent Competition” in spring of 2017. This competition was open to all instrumentalists and vocalists of all nationalities. Salonee won 2nd place and had the opportunity to perform with her violin at Carnegie Hall in New York this past December.

Recently, Salonee was nominated for the Harry F. Byrd award, which recognizes 11 Virginia high school students who demonstrate leadership, outstanding character and academic accomplishment. She submitted her essay, which spoke to her MID program, years of violin and leadership experience. After presenting her transcripts and being interviewed by a judge, she was awarded the Harry F. Byrd award and the $10,000 scholarship prize. She was presented the award in February at the Supreme Court of Virginia in Richmond, and was able to speak with fellow award-winners.

Salonee plans on majoring in Economics and Psychology as well as participate in the entrepreneurial institute at NYU next year. She credits Hampton Roads Academy with helping develop her love of learning by providing her with so many great opportunities and a great group of friends that she will continue to keep in touch with for life.