Gateway Young Achievers 2006

Intisar Faulkner's coming trip to Africa

(Second in a Series)

Sixth-grader Intisar Faulkner will be in Las Vegas this month to participate in a national dance competition. But, next year, she'll be on her first overseas trip to Africa.

The trip to Tanzania will be Intisar's "graduation present" from her mother. Mrs. Faulkner was born in the eastern African country, which is a popular safari destination.

Eleven-year-old Intisar will be accompanied by a most unusual "tour guide." Her adopted sister, Ahlam Ali, was born in Tanzania. She was a relative of Mrs. Faulkner.

Ahlam came to America five years ago. Now 15, she is fluent in English and will be a student at Hazelwood East High School in the fall.

Intisar Faulkner

But, with her early childhood in Tanzania, Ahlam is also fluent in Swahili, the main language in her home country. And Ahlam will know many of Mrs. Faulkner's relatives.

Last May, Intisar Faulkner was named a 2006 Gateway Young Achiever. The awards are given to metro-area youngsters who excel in academics, extra-curricular activities and community service.

(This article is the second of eight profiles by Young Saint Louis.com of the elementary and middle school awardees. In you'd like to read the first profile of Grace Salerno of Ballwin, click here.)

The Young Achievers are awarded a $1,000 savings bond and are eligible for the national Young Achiever competition. The awards are by the International Leadership Network.

Intisar will be in 6th grade at Keeven Elementary School in north St. Louis County.

She was class vice president at Keeven during the recent school year. "And I hope to be president next year," she said.

She's thinking about going into politics when she gets older. "Either that or be a pediatrician," she said.

She looks at U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a role model. "I like what she is trying to do for the country," she said.

In addition to being a class officer last year, Intisar was a student ambassador and helped establish the school's "Dress for Success" program. She also was a peer mediator.

She got an unusual award during a trip to the Missouri Legislature in Jefferson City. State Sen. Tim Greene gave her a certificate listing her as a "volunteer page." The senator, whose daughter is in Intisar's dance group, also introduced her to the full Senate.

Intisar has been taking dancing lessons since she was two. That has given her lots of chances to participate in dancing competitions.

This month, she'll be in four different dance competitions: ballet, lyrical, hip-hop and musical theater. She takes her lessons at Studio CAC in Hazelwood.

She's received two Debbie Allen awards, named after a famous African-American choreographer. Debbie Allen choreographed the musical, "Fame," and is the sister of Felicia Rashad of the Cosby Show.

Intisar said dancing is her favorite activity. "It's really fun and I enjoy competing. I like to have other people doing things and I'm with them," she said.

She performed in one Muny play, "Annie." She successfully auditioned for the 2006 season and was to appear in "Wizard of Oz." However, she had to drop out because the performances conflicted with her national dance competition.

An article written by Intisar appeared in a 2005 edition of the national magazine, "Young Dancer." The article was on the subject, "Why I like to dance," she said.

Fifth grade teacher Chaunta Hardy wrote a nominating letter to Young Achievers in favor of Intisar. She noted that Intisar had been on the honor roll throughout her school career.

She said Intisar "personified what every teacher desires for a student…leadership, citizenship, extra-curricular pursuits and academic excellence."

Next year's trip to Africa will involve a long air flight. She'll fly from St. Louis to London, England. Then, she transfers to Kenya Airways for a flight to Nairobi, Kenya, and on to Zanzibar in Tanzania.

Once there, she and her adopted sister will meet relatives and go on safari. Tanzania has some of the largest herds of wild animals on the Serengeti plains. The country is also the home of famed Mount Kilimanjaro.

She said she's looking forward to the trip but has two worries: bugs and food. She doesn't like bugs and is worried there won't be any chicken wings.