- Council of the Great City Schools
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2024 Math and Science Scholars Named in Urban Schools
FOR RELEASE CONTACT: Tonya Harris
June 18, 2024 tharris@cgcs.org
2024 Math and Science Scholars Named in Urban Schools
WASHINGTON, June 18 – Four graduating high school seniors have been selected by the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) to receive the 2024 CGCS-Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship. The students were chosen from more than 300 applicants in big-city school districts across the nation for their academic performance, leadership qualities, 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, and the Council to encourage and assist promising students of diverse backgrounds who plan to pursue science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) studies after high school.
The awards were given to two African-American and two Hispanic seniors from high schools in four of the 78 urban school districts represented by the Council.
“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 educational journeys of these future STEM leaders,” said Dr. 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 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.
This year’s scholarship program was generously funded by the Peter Pharis Foundation as well as the Savvas Learning Company, and Dr. Harris.
“We thank the Peter Pharis Foundaton, Savvas, 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.
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About the Council of the Great City Schools
The Council of the Great City Schools is the only national organization exclusively representing the needs of urban public schools. Composed of 78 large city school districts, its mission is to promote the cause of urban schools and to advocate for inner- city students through legislation, research and media relations. The organization also provides a network for school districts sharing common problems to exchange information, and to collectively address new challenges as they emerge to deliver the best possible education for urban youth. For more information, visit www.cgcs.org
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