“I’m going to have trouble keeping this brief! Marlene was a joy to have at our barn and on our IEA team. She checks all the boxes – good student, great teammate, constant sportsmanship nominee, super camp counselor, meets the challenge of riding with purpose and a smile. She knows how to enjoy riding and that comes through to both humans and horses. We were so happy to have her at shows wearing one of our team jackets. I am sure any college lucky enough to have her would feel the same.
P.S. Laura would say the same if she could – she loved teaching students who had a great sense of humor like Marlene does.”
– Emily Merkel; Riding Coach, Upper Marlboro, MD
“I met Marlene along her riding journey at Willowbend. As a WB alumni, I would always catch up with my previous coaches at any show I saw them at. Marlene grew tremendously in her riding over those years, strengthening her position and developing her confidence. Being a dry-witted individual myself, Marlene and I were always able to make each other laugh. She is fun to be around and willing to put in the work, both on the ground and in the saddle. While moving to South Breeze to finish her grade school riding career was not what was planned, Marlene has continued to grow in her new environment despite the circumstances. I wish Marlene good luck with her college search, and I know she’ll make an excellent addition to any team she joins.”
~ Rachel Turk; IEA Zone 3 Coach, Steward, and Judge, Laurel, MD
“Marlene Reyes is an exceptionally kind, courageous, resilient and organized student leader. She believes in the strength of community, finds the disenfranchised, and creates a venue by which they are heard. She reaches out beyond the immediate school community to serve the larger good and connects communities through their shared cultural experiences. She anticipates barriers and is proactive by planning ahead. Best of all, she listens, reflects on ways to improve and does the hard work of making change happen. She is a true champion!”
– Margaret Chung; Principal, Arlington Career Center, Arlington, VA
“Marlene is a community-builder. Throughout her time at Arlington Tech, she has identified ways to grow community and meet unanswered needs, either by using her own skills on a project or organizing groups of students to tackle the work. In 2024, she is leading a county-wide community event, a cultural night, to bring together families from all schools to celebrate the diversity in our area. This project showcases her strengths in communication, organization, imagination, and compassion for her community. Marlene will continue to build and lead dynamic communities in her future adventures.”
– Dr. Michelle Van Lare, Arlington Tech Program Coordinator, Arlington, VA