When he graduates at the end of the month, Karmello Jones will leave a pretty impressive mark at Cross High.
CROSS, S.C. – Cross High School senior Karmello Jones has been awarded the prestigious Gates Scholarship, one of the most competitive and generous scholarships in the country. He is believed to be the first student in Cross High’s history to receive the honor.
Jones, a standout student-athlete and member of the 2025 graduating class, is involved in multiple sports and organizations, including football, track, wrestling, Future Business Leaders of America, and Upward Bound Math & Science. He’s ranked among the top five in his class and has helped lead Cross High’s football team to the Class A state championship game.
“It’s crazy – I can’t really process it,” Jones said. “I expect to do great things… When you put in the hard work, when you put in the discipline, and you mix it with just a tiny bit of talent, you can get magical things – and that’s not just for me, that’s for everybody.”
Out of more than 48,000 applicants nationwide, Jones is one of just 750 students selected to receive the Gates Scholarship, which covers the full cost of attendance at any accredited U.S. college or university.
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Principal Tiffany Brown encouraged him to apply, and Jones stayed focused throughout the application process.
“I made it a priority this year to stay on top of the tasks, and just stay really focused on it and not let it slip my mind,” he said.
“I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs,” he added. “I was ecstatic knowing that I got something that I had worked hard for.”
Jones plans to attend the University of South Carolina to double major in sports management and sports science. He hopes to one day work for a major sports league—and to return to Cross to help build a stronger athletic program for future generations.
“I’m grateful and blessed to get it (the scholarship),” Jones said. “Thank you, Berkeley County, for my academic journey, and thank you, Cross High School.”
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