Metro Atlanta winners of Gates Millenium scholarships this year:
Oluwatomisin Adelusi, Brookwood High School
Yusra Ahmedin, Chamblee Charter High School
Muhozi Aimable, Clarkston High School
Jabari Ajao, McIntosh High School
Angelina Allen, Rockdale County High School
Micheline Amisi, Archer High School
Kim An, Clarkston High School
Andre Armour, Riverdale High School
Osei Avril, Pace Academy
Kiara Bass, Westlake High School
Njeri Bennett, Arabia Mountain High School
Idalis Boyd, Jonesboro High School
Tluang Cer, Clarkston High School
Brian Chung, Peachtree Ridge High School
Deona Clayton, McNair High School
Divine Collins, Drew High School
Jonathan Conde-Peraza, Meadowcreek High School
Joirdin Cooper, Washington High School Early College
Demeisha Crowley, Washington High School Banking, Finance and Investment
Paula Deroseney, Dacula High School
Aye Diallo, Pebblebrook High School
Amera Dixon, Arabia Mountain High School
Thien Do, Norcross High School
Diandra Dwyer, Pope High School
Ifeoma Ekwuocha, Lovejoy High School
Samuel Emmah, Morrow High School
Isai Flores, Campbell High School
Josselyn Garcia, Norcross High School
Melekot Girma, North Cobb Christian School
Peri Green, Southwest DeKalb High School
Hildana Haileyesus, Parkview High School
Mary Harris, North Atlanta High School
Benazir Haseen, Norcross High School
Hassan Hassen, South Cobb High School
Andrew Ho, Morrow High School
Vy Huynh, Stone Mountain High School
Chinye Ijeli, Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
Kingsley Iyawe, School Of Technology At Carver
Brandon Johnson, Shiloh High School
Stuart Johnson, Wesleyan School
Ashton Jordan, Dunwoody High School
Ekue Kangni, Stone Mountain High School
Nabilah Khanam, Meadowcreek High School
Malcom King, Washington High School Early College
Shariff Lee-Brown, Early College High School At Carver
Avanti Lemons, Grady High School
Chao Lin, Cross Keys High School
Thaxton Lipscomb, Mountain View High School
DeJuan McBurnie, Sprayberry High School
Gabrielle McCall, Westlake High School
Sharod McClendon, BEST Academy High School
Caridad Milanes, Meadowcreek High School
Aqib Momin, Rockdale County High School
Ruqiyah Mukarram, School Of Health Sciences And Research At Carver
Ya Daba Njie, Therrell School Of Engineering, Math And Science
Ure Obasi, Morrow High School
Simone Paul, Westlake High School
Austin Peete, Dutchtown High School
Brexton Pham, Kennesaw Mountain High School
Stephen Richardson, Washington High School Early College
Amri Rigby, Woodward Academy
Quasi Roque, Washington High School Banking, Finance and Investment
Ivan Sanchez, Marietta High School
James Scott, Douglass High School
David Shoneye, Arabia Mountain High School
Anna Smith, The School Of The Arts At Carver
David Smith, Lithonia High School
Samantha Smith, Whitewater High School
Chelse-Amoy Steele, Rockdale County High School
Juwon Thompson, Arabia Mountain High School
Thi Thong, Stone Mountain High School
Brittany White, South Cobb High School
Romie Williams, Mt. Zion High School
Romyko Winston, Douglass High School
Annie Yang, North Gwinnett High School
Source: Gates Foundation.
Norcross High School senior Josselyn Garcia kept the big news about her college scholarship a secret.
A classmate had applied for the same scholarship — the Gates Millenium Scholarship — and Garcia, 18, wanted him to get it too.
Soon, Garcia learned not only did that classmate, Thien Do, 17, get the scholarship, but another classmate, Benazir Haseen, 17, was awarded one as well.
Three Gates scholars from one high school is remarkable enough. But these three Norcross students attended the same Gwinnett County elementary school and middle school.
“It’s kind of a miracle,” Haseen said.
Only 1,000 of the tens of thousands of annual applicants are awarded a Gates Millenium Scholarship, which covers all costs for any college the recipient attends. It was started in 1999 through a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The scholarship helps minority students with financial need who are interested in fields where minorities are underrepresented, such as science, math, and engineering.
The three friends are very different, but also alike. They come from different parts of the globe and are keenly aware of the difficulties of being a newcomer. Like most teenagers, they laugh simultaneously. They thanked their guidance counselor and others for their academic success, and are modest.
For example, when asked who’s the best student, no one is willing to claim that title. They agree Garcia studies the hardest.
The students first attended Norcross Elementary School. Do and Garcia met in the fourth grade. Do’s family immigrated from Vietnam and he spoke little English. Garcia “was the first one to talk to me,” Do recalled.
Garcia’s family came to America from Peru when she was four, so she knew what it felt like to be the outsider. Do wrote a note in her yearbook to thank her for helping him adjust.
Haseen, whom friends call Ben, met Do next. They bonded over their shared love of Asian-styled television cartoons. Haseen and her family immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh. Garcia and Haseen thought each other were nice and often rode the bus home together. All three began a friendly competition to make the honor roll.
“It kept us motivated,” Garcia said.
At Summerour Middle School, Haseen persuaded Do to play the violin with her in the school orchestra. Garcia played the flute in the school band. The academic rivalry morphed into a musical one. Eventually, they gave up music, however. Books came first.
At Norcross High, Do and Garcia took more classes together. All three remained friends, but didn’t hang out much. Again, books came first.
None, though, were optimistic about winning a Gates scholarship.
When Do learned in a letter he won the scholarship, he made the announcement on Facebook. Garcia cried with joy. Unbeknownst to Do and Garcia, Haseen had also applied. Similar emotions emerged when they learned she was in, too. They posted the news on social media together with their award certificates.
The three students say they spend more time together now that they’ve won the scholarships. That may change, though, with the possibility that they attend different colleges. Garcia is planning to go to Emory. Haseen wants to attend Georgia State University’s Honor College, a highly selective program. Do is undecided about his college plans.
Do notes that the Gates program brings the students together frequently, so he’s optimistic they’ll keep in touch.
Gwinnett school officials have scheduled a ceremony Thursday to honor all of this year’s recipients. Do, Garcia and Haseen said they were uncertain whether they could attend. They’re studying for final exams.
Yes, books come first.
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