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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dr. Marty Pollio completed a scholarship blitz as the Jefferson County Public Schools superintended visited five high schools to surprise one student from each school with a scholarship check. “You’re making kids’ dreams come true,” Pollio said.
Pleasure Ridge Park senior Cordaisha Milan will attend University of Louisville and plans to become a teacher and school principal. Dr. Pollio presented Milan with a check in front of a packed lunchroom.
“I’m a little embarrassed for crying, but I’m just really proud of myself,” Milan told Spectrum News.
The scholarships are made possible by donations from JCPS employees and community members, and this year the awards totaled more than $75,000.
“PRP has definitely put me on the spot. They forced myself to work harder than I thought I could. I didn’t really think that I would probably be here, but I’m glad that I had the people here to support me,” Milan stated.
Dr. Pollio’s third visit of the day was to Butler High School, where senior Ali Alhilfi was at a loss for words when he learned he was one of the few winners.
“I’m sorry this is very emotional to me,” Alhilfi said.
Born in Louisville to Iraqi parents, Alhilfi plans study engineering at UofL in the fall.
“Growing up, my dad was a car mechanic, and I used to work with him and watch him fix cars. That’s what fascinated me to go into the career I want to go into,” Alhilfi said.
Things were loud at Central High School because good news was played in by a drum line. Mamata Sapkota immigrated to the U.S. from Nepal when she was 10 and dreams of becoming a doctor.
“Shout out to my mom. She had struggled so much all her life. She barely got her own education and my dad, he also wanted to become a doctor as well but because the village and his family of farmers he could not. But when he came here, he had to start from scratch, and he works at WalMart. I’m so happy that I could be here and do this,” Sapkota said.
Other students receiving scholarships were Sebastian Myers of Waggener High School and Jessica Garcia of Moore High School.
