Mekhi McKinney

Mekhi McKinney competed on IDEA’s boys varsity basketball team for three years, including serving as team captain for two years. The DC State Athletic Association recognized Mekhi’s skill on the court by giving him the DCSAA Impact Player of the Month Award. Mekhi also made the principal’s honor roll and served as president of the National Honor Society. He created his own clothing line—HiGH [Humble in God’s Honor] Apparel—and records motivational videos on YouTube. Mekhi credits his English classes at IDEA with helping him become a better public speaker. He plans to attend college and study sociology. Mekhi hopes to become a professional public speaker to inspire young African-American men to follow their passions. His advice is that “everyone has a different journey, but it’s up to us to make the best it.”