A Lee County student made history recently. Simpson Lin is a senior at Gateway High School. He earned the largest scholarship in Lee County School District history.
The steps Lin takes through the halls at Gateway are leading him toward higher education. He told ABC-7 the educators here have always challenged him, “to see how far I can actually go.”
Now, that challenge is paying off in the form of a full tuition and room and board scholarship to Duke University that is worth nearly $400,000. He got the notification in December.
Lee County School District said it is the largest scholarship in the district’s history. On top of that achievement, Lin is a first-generation college student.
The scholarship money comes from QuestBridge, an organization that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with educational opportunities.
“One of the limiting factors in applying for college, I believe for everyone, was definitely the finances involved and especially for my parents,” Lin explained.
It’s an opportunity he’s worked very hard for. Just ask his teachers.
“He’s one of those kids that really takes what he does seriously,” shared Tameesha Leach. “It’s been an awesome journey to just watch him grow.” Leach teaches Lin in her medical classes at Gateway. He’s working toward his EKG certification, which will enable him to help others stay healthy.
“It’s a blessing in disguise,” Leach added. “I’ve worked in the medical field up until I started teaching.”
On top of his academic success at Gateway, Lin is also dual enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University. He splits his time between both campuses getting ready to live out his dream at Duke.
“You get to experience the actual campus university life like no other, with the class rigor, the lecture schedules, and just how classes and students operate,” Lin shared.
Walking this campus like he does the halls of Gateway, Lin said he’s hoping to continue making history with his career with the help of this record-setting scholarship. “It’s like a weight off my shoulders.”
Lin said he hopes to become a psychiatrist one day and open his own business. The previous scholarship record also went to a Gateway senior just last year who got into MIT. That award added up to $330,000.
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