Los Amigos Scholars Receive Prestigious Gates Scholarship

• Friday, May 13, 2022

Los Amigos High School valedictorian Brianna Bayliss and Salutatorian Ashlie Benitez were awarded the highly-selective Gates Scholarship, a prestigious college scholarship awarded to only 300 students across the nation each year. This is the second year in a row that two students from Los Amigos have earned this outstanding college scholarship which covers the full cost of attendance, not already covered by financial aid and renewable every year.

Bayliss said she is grateful that after working to earn as many scholarships as possible, she landed in the most ideal situation she could have hoped for as she enters college. She plans to attend UCLA in the fall to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Benitez, who is deciding between attending Harvard or NYU in the fall, said the Gates Scholarship represents endless opportunities for her future.

“I can now consider every single path without needing to take financial obstacles and barriers into account,” said Benitez on her pending college decision. “I feel more confident that I am able to achieve my dreams, not only with the money that the Gates Scholarship is providing me, but also with the lifelong connections I will make with the organization."

“We are proud of Brianna and Ashlie for their persistent commitment to academic success and for the immeasurable amount of hard work that went into earning the prestigious Gates Scholarship,” said Board of Education President Bob Harden.

The Gates Scholarship began in 2017 with the mission of removing financial barriers for outstanding minority students from low-income families so that students can excel in their college and career goals. Students selected are in the top 10% of their graduating class, have demonstrated leadership ability and personal success skills. 

 

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