Anna Capetanakis, 17
Junior editor of the yearbook:
After Latino students circulated a petition on the lack of diversity in the yearbook last year, the editors looked through the book and noticed that, indeed, white students were the subject of all the awards and many of the pictures.
This year, the editors made more of an effort to reach out to minority students by asking them to vote for awards and submit more photos of themselves. It wasn’t easy, but it was a start.
"People don’t get involved in it because they don’t think they are going to be in it," Capetanakis said. "I wouldn’t want to be in something that had nothing about me in it. It’s a cycle that needs to be broken."

Vanessa Cardanes
Founder of the Latin American Students Association:
Last fall, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary. Cardanes, who graduated from Washington-Lee in 1992, started the group so Latinos would feel a part of the school and so there would be an ongoing effort to portray a positive image of Latino students.
"We were so isolated. Although there was the Spanish Club, it was mostly for English speakers who were taking Spanish as a language. White students won even the Miss International contest at school," Cardanes said. "Teenagers are cruel, and we were the ugly ducklings at school. Today, the club gives students a place where they can feel proud of being Latinos."

Milady Rodriguez, 18
Latino Student Leader :
Milady moved to Arlington from El Salvador six years ago. She recently has become more involved in student life at Washington-Lee. Recently, she worked on the prom committee and on the senior memories assembly.
She also has challenged herself academically by taking advanced classes. Sometimes, she is the only Latino in the class.
"I want to be involved—not to fit in but to show that we are here and that we can do it," Rodriguez said. "It can be hard sometimes, sure. But I think it’s important to show that we want to be involved and that’s how things get better."

Photos: Anna Capetanakis's photo was taken by Post photographer Bill O'Leary; Milady Rodriguez's, by Post photographer Dayna Smith.