(CNN) A Black woman will lead the US Naval Academy's student body for the first time in its history. Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber, a mechanical engineering major from Lake Forest, Illinois, has been named brigade commander for the spring semester -- the academy's highest student leadership position , the Naval Academy said in a news release Monday. Barber is on the track team, holds leadership positions in a number of student organizations and aspires to be a Marine Corps ground officer. "Earning the title of brigade commander speaks volumes, but the title itself is not nearly as significant as the opportunity it brings to lead a team in doing something I believe will be truly special," Barber said in the release. The brigade commander is responsible for the much of the day-to-day activities and professional training for the Naval Academy's more than 4,400 midshipmen, according to its websiteRead More

Source: CNN November 10, 2020 19:41 UTC