D.C High School Seniors Surprised With a $225,236 Full-Ride Scholarships

By: Monica Brown

George Washington University awarded nine D.C high school seniors Thursday with a four year scholarship worth a generous amount of $225,236. The George Washington University officials along with GW’s Mascot George visited eight schools in the D.C area. These nine D.C high schools seniors were awarded with GW’s Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship which covers tuition, room and board, books and fees at George Washington University. GW’s School officials, the school’s Mascot George, Parents and George Washington University President Steven Knapp all hand delivered acceptance letters and stood in front of each of the nine students’ classrooms announcing the winners of the free college education financial scholarships packages for the class of 2016.


“Nothing is more satisfying than to surprise an aspiring young student with a full scholarship,” said GW President Steven Knapp. “I look forward to welcoming these talented students to the GW community next fall.”

The Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarships are based on SAT scores, GPA, class rank, teacher recommendations, course of study, community service and leadership qualities. According to GW’s Media Relations Specialist Angela Olson, to date, the University has committed more than $16.5 million to the program. The scholarship award program was formerly named the GW 21st Century Scholarships but renamed after GW president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg.

One of the winners awarded with a full ride scholarship at GW was, Nia Christian, a Senior of Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. Nia Christian was completely shocked when President Steven Knapp announced her name in front of her classmates.

“I applied for so many scholarships and I was constantly denied”, said Nia Christian. “I am thrilled to be awarded this scholarship and yes I am no longer looking at other schools, I’m officially a Colonial.”

Rebecca Christian, a reading specialist and mother of Nia Christian added “It’s good to see that my daughter was awarded this scholarship,” Rebecca Christian told reporters.“To see someone like her receiving this award means a lot. She doesn’t fit the normal stereotypes of who should attend this prestigious college.”

Once these nine students are fully admitted into GW under the SJT Scholarship Program, they must earn a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester and maintain academic satisfactory progress with a GPA of 3.0, according to SJT Scholarship Program website. In this case all of the nine students awarded with the SJT scholarship have earned above a 3.0 GPA. In fact Nia Christian cumulative GPA in high school is 3.8.

These SJT award winners will pursue a career in engineering, acting, photography, poetry, international prosecutor, entrepreneurship, and a novelty. Start date for the nine D.C High School seniors is August 28th, 2012.

Here’s a list of this year’s SJT award winners: Taylor Young of Duke Ellington School for Arts; Avonda Fogan of the Maret School; Tinsley Harris and Edwin Musibira of Woodrow Wilson Senior High School; Darielle Anderson of Ceaser Chavez Public Charter School; Nia Christian of Benjamin Banneker Academic High School; Samantha Brews of McKinley Technology High School; Francisco Palucho of Francis L. Cardozo High School; and Ayodele Akosile of The SEED School of Washington, D.C.