Education

Nine Gwinnett seniors awarded new Gates scholarships

By Arlinda Smith Broady
May 16, 2018
Nine Gwinnett County Public Schools high school seniors have been awarded Gates Scholarships.
Nine Gwinnett County Public Schools high school seniors have been awarded Gates Scholarships.

Nine high schools seniors from Gwinnett County Public Schools are among the first recipients of the Gates Scholarship, a highly selective, full scholarship for exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority, high school seniors. Beginning this year, the scholarship will be awarded to 300 top student leaders each year with the intent of promoting their academic excellence through college graduation and providing them the opportunity to reach their full potential, according to the scholarship guidelines.

Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid .

The honorees are:

Anna Tran, Berkmar High School

Binisha Patel, Collins Hill High School

Kaitlyn Choe, Discovery High School

Doyoung Jeong, Duluth High School

Oladeji David Salimonu, Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology  

Nhi Ngo, Meadowcreek High School

Matthew Kim, Mountain View High School

Pooja Parmar, North Gwinnett High School

Ashley Kyelem, Parkview High School

With the launch of this program, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continues its long-standing commitment to helping outstanding minority students who come from low-income backgrounds realize their maximum potential.

The scholarship program is based on evidence that by eliminating the financial barriers to college, an all-expenses-paid scholarship can enable high-potential, low-income minority students to excel in their course work, graduate college, and continue to be leaders throughout their lives.

In addition to funding, The Gates Scholarship provides further support to scholars, by engaging with them and their institutions in a variety of ways, to ensure they have access to the resources and services they need, from their first to last day of classes, through graduation and the transition to their chosen careers.

About the Author

A Midwesterner by birth, but a Southerner by heritage, Arlinda Smith Broady has a combination of solid values, easy-going charm and unrelenting thirst for knowledge that makes her a not only a dedicated journalist, but a compassionate community member. She seeks truth and justice, but is just as eager to spread good news and share a witty story.

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