AISD students earned the prestigious Gates Scholarship

Arlington, Texas - In Arlington Independent School District (AISD), two students, Yessenia Martin and Kruz Hernandez, have achieved something really special.

They've won the Gates Scholarship, a big award that supports high-performing minority students in high school, according to Dallas Metro News. This accomplishment shows their potential and sets them up for a bright future in college.

The Gates Scholarship is a big deal. It pays for a student's entire college education at any university they want to attend. Out of the 51,000 students who applied for it, only 750 won the award. The selection process is tough, with students having to fill out an application, write essays, get recommendations, and even do a final interview.

Martin, who is the top student at Arlington Collegiate High School, and Hernandez, who is the student council president at Arlington College and Career High School, are both making history in their families as the first ones to go to college. They come from Mexican families, and they'll be continuing their education at the University of Texas at Austin.

"It was very unexpected," Martin said about winning the scholarship. She's happy that she can now go to the college of her choice, the University of Texas at Austin, without worrying about how much it costs. Before winning the Gates Scholarship, Martin had planned to go to the University of Texas at Dallas because they had given her a full scholarship.

Like Martin, Hernandez had also not planned to go to the University of Texas at Austin. His original plans were to accept a scholarship from Texas Wesleyan University or possibly join the Air Force. However, his plans changed when he found out he won the Gates Scholarship.

Hernandez said waiting for the scholarship announcement was nerve-wracking. But when he finally got the confirmation, he was thrilled. Now, he plans to study neuroscience and hopes to either go to medical school or start a career in research.

Hernandez's father, who moved from Mexico when he was young, is really proud of his son's achievement. As the first in his family to attend college, Hernandez's accomplishment is a big deal.

The Principal of Arlington Collegiate High School, Dr. Ben Bholan, also thinks Hernandez's achievement is inspiring for other students.

“It’s huge because once you have a student like that you can point to something that’s tangible,” Bholan said. “They can come back and talk to others about it. It can be motivating to others to see the growth of that student. It’s motivating for the students and the staff also.”