To earn a full scholarship to the university you wish to attend is every high school kid's dream. When that dream became a reality for one student in particular, he chose not only to celebrate, but to give back to his community as well.
High School Senior Donates His College Savings After Earning Full-Ride Scholarship
University application season is chock full of stress, but also full of hope.
Unsplash | Emily Karakis
It's a time when thousands of graduating students are feeling hopeful that they get admitted to their first-pick schools, mixed with the excitement (and nervousness) of knowing your journey will continue next autumn. Emotions are certainly running high.
And they ran even higher for one student, Joshua Nelson of St. Charles West High School, who received better-than-average news.
Not only did he get accepted into Southeast Missouri State University, but he was also awarded the President’s Scholarship, which means he scored himself a full ride.
It's valued at $43,000, all of which covers tuition and board for his four-year program.
He earned this scholarship by being an absolutely outstanding student with plenty of achievements under his belt.
He is the president of his high school's Multicultural Achievement Council, a member of the National Honor Society, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Black Student Union. He also played on the school's varsity basketball team and was a tutor at his local Boys and Girls Club.
His amazing character was continuously on display, and that didn't stop after he got the scholarship.
Because he won a full ride, he decided to use the money he had saved towards his college education to help another student instead, and launched the The Joshua Nelson Leaders in Action Scholarship.
Unsplash | heylagostechie
He'd already saved $1,000, which was all put towards the scholarship, and he's hoping community members and local businesses will help grow that fund.
His scholarship aims to "help multicultural students who are showing leadership, community service and just have great qualities in and out of the classroom."
"I think he's an inspiration to some of the other people at the school especially students of color."
St. Charles West MAC Scholars
"I don't even think he realizes that he's doing that much for everyone else as well," said a classmate of his, Harmony Hudson, in an interview with KDSK.
His scholarship is still accepting donations here. This September, he'll be off to Southeast Missouri State University's pre-optometry program with a major in biomedical sciences.
h/t: KDSK
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