DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – A student in one Eastern North Carolina high school received a scholarship that came as a surprise on Wednesday.
Amirah Loveless is a junior at James Kenan High School in Duplin County, and she received a scholarship from BigFuture with The College Board. That scholarship consisted of a $40,000 check presented to her in front of all her peers.
“I didn’t know I was going to get this,” said Loveless. “I didn’t know that me getting on the website was going to get me this. I just thought it was something they planned out and go back over later.”
Loveless logged onto the portal and started thinking about her future. She says her teacher spoke to her about it, and that’s why she decided to fill out the career plans. “I had gotten on there, and it was like planning out my future, and I know I want to be a nurse, and also I think after I graduate, I want to join the military.”
Loveless was not alone when she found out about the scholarship, as her parents were sitting on the side of the gym with other faculty members, cheering her on.
“I thought that she got the $500 scholarship,” said Kimberly Rose, Loveless’ mother. “When they said $40,000, I thought ‘woah’.’”
Loveless is set to continue her education and have a bright future. Brian Barnes with the College Board says seeing her smile and students deciding their path is what makes his work worthy.
“Amirah was the needle in the haystack,” said Barnes. “She pulled the right one out, so I’m excited to help her with that.”
The College Board is a platform to help students navigate college applications, school and other academic challenges. Every month, two people across the United States receive the $40,000 scholarship while hundreds get the $500. A total of 24 scholarships full of $40,000 are given out within the year.
There have only been two scholarships given out so far. The first was in Charlotte, and now Duplin County.
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