AACC, GLEN BURNIE HIGH DUAL-ENROLLED STUDENT NAMED NATIONAL DREAM SCHOLAR

Victor Aigbedion, a student at Glen Burnie High School who is dually enrolled at Anne Arundel Community College, has become the first high school student ever to be named a DREAM Scholar by Achieving the Dream -ATD, according to a statement released by Anne Arundel County Public Schools and AACC. (Photo source: AACPS)

Related: Glen Burnie High School's Victor Aigbedion Named NAACP's Freedom Fund Award Recipient

The statement said Aigbedion, an immigrant from Nigeria, is one of eight 2026 DREAM Scholars selected from across the United States and South Africa. In addition to classes at Glen Burnie High School, he has been taking courses at AACC since 2024 as part of the dual enrollment program made possible by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. He is completing his fifth and sixth AACC classes this spring, the statement said.

“Being an immigrant, coming from a foreign country and learning how to adapt to all the cultural and societal norms here wasn’t easy, but it was worth it,” Aigbedion said in the statement. He added, “It gave me a panoramic perspective and taught me how to establish myself in every room I walk into. I see this as not only an award for myself, but an opportunity to inspire other students like me, who feel like they don’t have a voice and to show them that leadership and success are not tied to a single background or skin color.”

Aigbedion is a member of Glen Burnie’s AVID and Public Service Signature programs, according to the statement.

“Victor is a tremendous example of what happens when dual-enrolled students take full advantage of the opportunities at AACC,” AACC President Dr. Dawn Lindsay said in the statement. “Through our partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, students like Victor are able to earn college credentials and build confidence in their future. We are incredibly proud of his achievement.”

Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell also praised the achievement.

“Anne Arundel Community College continues to be one of the premier two-year institutions in the United States and we are very proud that programs like the Blueprint allow for our students to maximize opportunities that exist at AACC,” Bedell said in the statement.

At AACC, Aigbedion serves as outreach director of the Ambassadors Campus Team and was a 2025 convocation student speaker, according to the statement. He also received the Anne Arundel County NAACP Freedom Fund Award in November.

The statement said Aigbedion and his family moved to the United States when he was in fourth grade. He attended several schools in Prince George’s County before enrolling at Lindale Middle School for seventh and eighth grades and North County High School for ninth and 10th grades. Following redistricting, he transferred to Glen Burnie High School in 11th grade.

“I saw coming to Glen Burnie as an opportunity to rebuild, rediscover, and redefine myself,” Aigbedion said in the statement.

He currently serves as president of the school’s National Math Honor Society chapter, treasurer of the Science National Honor Society, and is a member of Rho Kappa, the Social Studies Honor Society, as well as the school’s Black Student Union, according to the statement.

After graduating this spring with his high school diploma and a certificate in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from AACC, Aigbedion plans to attend George Washington University, where he hopes to major in political science and pursue a career shaping policies that strengthen opportunities for underrepresented communities, the statement said.

“AACC has been more than just a college to me, it’s been a catalyst,” Aigbedion said during his convocation address, according to the statement. “Through workshops, mentorship and campus life, I’ve grown into not only a better student but a better leader.”

This year’s DREAM Scholars will participate in an immersive leadership and learning experience at ATD’s annual conference in Portland, Oregon, next month, the statement said. The conference is designed to elevate student voice and deepen engagement with community college leaders from across the country and beyond.

During the conference, Aigbedion and the other DREAM Scholars will present about their journeys and discuss the supports students need to thrive. Each scholar will also receive a scholarship to support their educational or personal journey, according to the statement.

“Today we elevate not only Victor’s extraordinary achievement, but the power of opportunity and hard work that define Glen Burnie High School,” Principal Kevin Carr said in the statement. “We celebrate his commitment to excellence, which inspires our entire GB community. Victor’s recognition as a DREAM Scholar reflects what is possible when students are supported and empowered to reach their full potential.”

Aigbedion said he views the recognition as more than an award.

“I see this as an opportunity to reach out to youth,” he said in the statement. “It’s a platform to speak out to them and tell them that anything is possible, because it is. We should strive for a world where success, especially for those from overlooked backgrounds, is not the exception but the expectation.”

The other 2026 DREAM Scholars represent colleges in Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, Colorado, Montana and South Africa, the statement said.