Four Urban Students Win CGCS-Bernard Harris Scholarships in Math and Science

  • Four graduating high school seniors with dreams of pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers were recently selected by the Council of the Great City Schools to receive the 2024 CGCS-Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship. 

    Two African American and two Hispanic graduating seniors from high schools across four of the Council's 78 urban school districts nationwide were chosen from hundreds of applicants. They were recognized for their exceptional academic ability, leadership, and community involvement.

    Now in its sixth year, the scholarship was created by former NASA astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the first African American to walk in space, in collaboration with the Council to encourage and support promising students from diverse backgrounds who plan to pursue STEM studies after high school.

    This year’s program was generously funded by the Peter Pharis Foundation, Savvas Learning Company, and Dr. Bernard Harris.

    “Encouraging students of diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM has been a life-long goal for me, so I am grateful for the opportunity to support the education journeys of these future STEM leaders,”  said Harris. “These scholarships will make education more accessible for this year’s recipients, and I wish them all the best as they undergo their post-secondary studies.”

    Each scholar will receive $5,000 for their continued education in a STEM-related field. This year’s award winners are:

    • Alyssa Almaguer, Lucy Garrett Beckham High School, Charleston County School District
    • Angel Gabriel Hernández Hernández, Escuela Especializada en Bellas Artes Anita Otero Hernández, Puerto Rico Department of Education
    • Emerie McCann, Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, Houston Independent School District
    • Joshua McLeod, Norview High School, Norfolk Public Schools

    In the fall, Almaguer will attend Clemson University Honors College and major in bioengineering. Hernández Hernández will major in biomedical engineering-mechanical at the University of Miami. McCann plans to study environmental engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and McLeod will major in electrical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

    “We thank the Peter Pharis Foundation, Savvas Learning Company, and Dr. Harris for their generosity and congratulate this year’s scholarship winners as they join the ranks of our past scholarship recipients,” said Council Executive Ray Hart. “It’s inspiring to witness the positive impact this scholarship has on their lives and to continue to support the next generation of urban students pursuing math- and science- related degrees.”

    Administration of the scholarship program, including the application process, pre-selection and presentation of awards, is provided by CGCS. Dr. Harris makes the final selection of recipients.