STEAM Academy senior Leonard Oduro turns talent into leadership on Board of Education

As student ambassador on the Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education, STEAM Academy senior and fledgling author Leonard Oduro views his role as representing the voices of his classmates – as well as spreading the word about educational opportunities.

Leonard, who was born in Ghana and came to the United States at age 14 with his family, was selected as the student representative on the board during his senior year, which he is spending studying, applying to myriad colleges and networking.

The accomplished writer recently earned a Regional Gold Medal from the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) for a short story, followed by a Silver Medal and $1,500 award from the NAACP at the national competition in Charlotte, N.C.

“It was an incredible experience — not just to win, but to see so many talented students from around the country,” Leonard said during a recent interview. “It really opened my horizons.”

He said his short story, inspired by the experiences of his friends in Mount Vernon, explores themes of struggle, resilience and community.

“It wasn’t about me. It was about the people I’ve met — the challenges they’ve faced and how they keep going,” Leonard said.

Since arriving from the West African country, he has embraced every opportunity to learn and lead.

As an 11th-grader, he was selected to join the Lehman College Summer Program, where he took a college-level English Language Arts composition course focused on writing techniques and skills.

He also co-created the Mount Vernon Public Library Creative Writing Program with a classmate to help other students fulfill community service hours while exploring the craft of writing at the collegiate level.

Leonard’s academic prowess earned him acceptance into the Mount Vernon Star Scholars program and a $4,000 scholarship. At STEAM, he also leads peers as president of the Esports Club, balancing creativity and curiosity in all he does.

As a Board of Education liaison, Leonard regularly brings student concerns to the attention of District leaders, most recently advocating for technology upgrades and facility improvements.

“It’s rewarding to see that when I raise issues, changes happen – students are being heard,” he said.

Founded in 1978 by author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO is an NAACP youth enrichment program often referred to as the “Olympics of the Mind.” It encourages students to showcase their talents in dozens of categories spanning the sciences, humanities, business and performing arts. Local winners advance to compete nationally.

Leonard hopes to see more of his peers participate.

“Students can compete in almost any area — science, writing, music, engineering — and it’s open to everyone who’s willing to try,” he said. “You can travel, meet amazing people, and gain experiences that stay with you forever.”

Leonard plans to pursue a career in engineering, following in the footsteps of his father, who built their family home in Ghana.

“My father could build anything — he was an electrical and mechanical engineer,” he said. “I want to be like him: someone who creates, solves problems, and helps others.”

Leonard said he is eyeing a multitude of universities, including Princeton, Yale, Duke and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

In the meantime, he continues to balance his roles as writer, leader and advocate for his fellow students — a reflection of STEAM Academy’s mission to develop scholars who think critically and lead boldly.

Students interested in learning more about ACT-SO and sharing ideas can reach Leonard by clicking here.