MOTHER NATURE: (From left) During a brutal attack on their Republic of Congo village 13 years ago, Fife Mukendi, 34, hid her siblings -- Kennedy, 24, Christel, 18, and Darci, 21 -- from the wrath of machete-wielding rebels murderers. Christel Mukendi, a cross country and track and field runner and recent Samuel Banks graduate, has been named the DigitalSports Applause Scholarship winner for the fall.
HER TRUE MEDAL: Samuel Banks graduate Christel Mukendi (above) displays her winnings, including an award for third place at the state track meet in the 1,600-meter run.
"I put all of my attention on her as the girl -- raising her up, giving her advice as much as I can," said Christel's older sister, Fife, who has raised her since she was 2. "I know it's not easy. It was very hard sometimes for me to continue. Sometimes, you just encourage yourself to move on."
Christel Mukendi has an outstanding athletic resume for Samuel Banks High School. She has been an honor roll student for her entire three years as a student. Christel is from the Republic Democratic Congo, in Africa.
When Christel was 5, the village she lived in was attacked by rebels. Everyone in the village was brutally murdered -- butchered to death. Other violent and horrific crimes were committed too. Everyone was killed except Christel and her three brothers and her older sister.
The sister hid all of the children and they escaped the slaughter of every living being in their village. When this atrocity was discovered, Christel and her siblings were found still in hiding from the rebels. From the age of five until the age of 13, Christel and her siblings lived in a tent village in Africa.
A world Christian organization organized the family's passage into the United States in the spring of 2005. Christel arrived at Samuel Banks at the age of 14, and began her athletic career as a member of the cross country team.
Christel lives with her sister, Fife, who serves as the mother for this family. In addition to being an outstanding student, Christel has represented our school by placing in three state cross country championships and winning state championship medals in indoor and outdoor track and field.
Last fall, Christel had the highest individual finish of any girl from Baltimore City in the cross country state championships. She is an outstanding student athlete and has the ability to go to higher levels with collegiate training and financial help.
--Carol Whitney Ansell, Samuel Banks Athletic Director
by Lem Satterfield
(SEE VIDEO INTERVIEWS BELOW)
Sitting on a couch in the living room of her home in Baltimore City, Fife Mukendi put her left arm around the young lady sitting next to her. She held close and snuggled the girl -- her baby sister, Christel.
She looked at Christel with a mother's eyes.
"I kept Christel since she was 2 years old because of the situation we went through back home in the Republic of Congo. We went through so many things, through a lot of atrocities.
But thank God, we've overcome," said Fife Mukendi, 34, a nurse by profession.
"And we've found ourselves in this country, the U.S.A., whereby, I haven't given up, but have continued to take care of the family. She's a little girl -- the last-born in our family," said Fife Mukendi.
"I put all of my attention on her as the girl -- raising her up, giving her advice as much as I can," Fife Mukendi said. "I know it's not easy. It was very hard sometimes for me to continue. Sometimes, you just encourage yourself to move on."
After a brief pause, Fife Mukendi gazed lovingly at Christel, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Samuel Banks. Fife Mukendi glanced up at the cieling as if trying to see the heavens beyond it.
"Thank God, because she's made it -- this sweet, loved sister of mine," Fife Mukendi said as she squeezed Christel close against her.
"She obeys, and she follows the advice I've given her. And she's worked hard, and tried to improve to make me feel comfortable," Fife Mukendi said. "She's made it, and she's proven to me that she can to do it better, better and much better."
A star athlete who is perhaps the most successful runner in Samuel Banks' six-year history, Christel Mukendi is the Baltimore City's female winner of DigitalSports' Applause Scholarship for the fall.
The DigitalSports Applause Scholarship is awarded in the amount of $500 toward the college education of an outstanding senior student-athlete who has exhibited great courage in overcoming adversity in order to make a positive contribution to his or her team.
In 2007-2008, DigitalSports has named 22 Applause Scholarship winners
in the Baltimore area, representing more than $11,000 in scholarship
awards. Winners have come from
Anne Arundel County,
Baltimore City,
Baltimore County and
Howard County
territories, as well as the
Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and the
Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland.
"I'm so proud of my sister, Christel Mukendi, for what she's shown that she can do. She graduated with high honors. There are a lot of kids who can't make it," said Kennedy Mukendi, 24.
"We came from Africa in 2004, to this country, the United States, and it's not easy for people like us. We're from a French-speaking country. Going to school and achieving, that was great. That's very encouraging," said Kennedy Mukendi. "As my sister, I'm just so proud of her. I just look forward to, wherever she goes, she's going to keep the same spirit and determination. I'm sure she can do it. I'm confident she's gonna do it."
Christel Mukendi, who achieved a 3.5 grade point average, plans to attend either Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, the University of the District of Columbia or the University of Maryland on The Eastern Shore.
"Being an honors student, it gives you pride. It makes you feel good about what you've done, because there's a lot of stuff going on in school. Some bad influences. Being an honors student, that puts you in a good place to do something, to accomplish something," said Mukendi, who also has an older brother, Frank, 26.
"It can be really hard when some friends are sometimes skipping school, doing stupid stuff. Through all of that, you have to keep your mind and to be focused and get good grades," Mukendi said. "That's what being an honors student means to me -- being focused and proud of yourself."
Darci Mukendi, 21, also praised his younger sibling, whom he often drives to school in the mornings and considers to be his best friend.
"I'm so proud of this little girl, my sister, Christel Mukendi. I'm going to school, too, so I know what it's like to be influenced by friends. We have the drug dealers, people with different habits," said Darci Mukendi.
"My sister has shown that, by making it, she has followed all of the instructions of her brothers and sisters. She's followed everything that we've told her -- and that's why she's made it. She's made her family proud by obtaining a high [grade point] average at school," said Darci Mukendi, who, at one point, stopped and kissed Christel on her right cheek.
"We're looking forward to supporting her in this upcoming step toward college," said Darci Mukendi. "She's smart, and then she always works hard in the house, such as cooking, doing all kinds of work. She proved that she can make it, and I'm so proud of her."
Christel Mukendi's most successful effort in cross country was accomplished during her junior year, when she placed ninth at the Class 1A state meet one week after having placed fourth at regionals.
As a senior competing indoors this past winter, Mukendi was first and second, respectively, in Baltimore City in the 3,200-, and, 1,600-meter runs.
Outdoors, Mukendi's best moments were achieved during her junior year, when she was first in her region in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, followed by a third place finish at states at 3,200 meters.
Mukendi is also involved in a number of other school and community activities, including varsity dance, service to her church, and being a member of her church choir.
"What dance really means to me is to like, free your mind, and to just be out there and to have fun. To dance and to feel good," said Mukendi, who has been involved with dance for three years.
"Community service at church, actually I clean the church. I like cleaning. That's like, my house. I clean my house and take care of my house," Mukendi said. "I also do the Sunday School. Like if the teacher is absent, I volunteer to work with the little kids for Sunday School."
As a four-year member of the church choir, "I enjoy singing for the Lord," Mukendi said. "You've got to do something. If you do something for yourself, then you've got to do something for the Lord, too."
"I choose to sing in the choir, and I'm enjoying it. It's something that keeps you close to God," Mukendi said. "I dance in church, too."
In college, Mukendi said she will likely pursue an undergraduate major in biology, with long-term goals of achieving a degree in physical therapy.
"By finishing, graduating from high school, she showed me the effort. She graduated with honors and qualified for scholarships. It makes me feel like I'm a real mom. I'm a real mom. I'm a real mom," said Fife Mukendi, wrapping both arms around her sister and rocking her for emphasis.
"It's like if someone was crying, and she just came up and dried my tears. So I feel so proud about her. But I thank God, because, in reality, we're facing a new life," Fife Mukendi said.
"We miss other people, like parents. But I feel comfortable releasing her to the college -- wherever she wants to go," Fife Mukendi said. "She'll continue to be strong, and determined on what she wants to achieve. I know that God is the provider, and she'll make it."
Christel Mukendi Honors Awards 2005-2008
Dr. Samuel L. Banks High School
Fall 2005: Cross Country
- Baltimore Sun Paper Athlete of the Week (Front Page and Center spread article)
- Top ten finalist for Baltimore City Public Schools
- Regional 1A Finalist;
- MPSSAA 1A State Championships (finished 23 rd, Ribbon)
Indoor Track 2005-06
- Regional and State Qualifier
Outdoor Track and Field 2006
- Regional and State Qualifier
Fall 2006: Cross Country
- Baltimore Raven’s Athlete of the Week
- Top ten medalist for Baltimore City Championships
- Regional Finalist
- State Finalist (9th for 1A MPSSAA)
- Consistently finished in top three of every Baltimore City (BCPSS), and regional meet.
Outdoor Track and Field 2007
- Regional and State Qualifier
- State Medals: 1600 (3rd 5:34); 3200 (7th 12:43);
- Regional Medals: 3200 (1st place); 1600 (1st)
Fall 2007: Cross Country
- MPSSAA 2A State Championships (finished 18th, Ribbon)
- Regional Finalist (3rd)
- Baltimore City Championships (4th)
Indoor Track and Field 2007-2008
- City Championships: 3200 (1st, 13:17); 1600 (2nd, 6:02)
- Regional Champion: 3200 (3rd, 12:50); 1600 (3rd, 5:40)
- State Championships: TBA (February 18th at Prince Georges Complex)
Outdoor Track and Field 2008:
- City and Regional Championships
- Qualified for States (did not attend)
Other activities:
- Member of the Varsity Dance Team: 2006/2007/08
- Community Service work at my church: 3 Years
- Member of the Church Choir: 3 Years
- Participated in the SAT special prep weekend: 2007
- Honor Students (3 Years)
- Captain of every Varsity Team (3 Years)
- Worked part time job while attending school (Winter 06-07)
- Ranked 10th in my graduating class
- All MPSSAA State meets were run at Hereford High School in Hereford, Maryland. This course is ranked as one of the most difficult courses in the United States