LEWISTON — A Somalia-born Lewiston High School graduate who went on to Columbia University has been chosen as this year’s motivational speaker for city middle school students.

Hossain Naji is scheduled to speak Wednesday as the 2012 “START Star” at the Lewiston Middle School.

Project START, which stands for Steps for Accomplishing Real Life Transitions, is a program to help middle schoolers understand how the choices they make in high school affect their future.

Middle School Career Aspirations Director Billy Jo Brito tells the Sun Journal Naji is a good role model.

Naji helped create a video in 2008 in high school to warn students about the dangers of alcohol.

He graduated in May as a film major from Columbia and plans to pursue a career in the film industry.