Three New York High School Seniors Win $40,000 College Board Opportunity Scholarships For Staying On Path To College

Three New York State students are among this year’s recipients of $40,000 scholarships through College Board’s Complete Your Journey Opportunity Scholarship program, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced. The three New York City seniors are among 25 students in the class of 2021 from across the country to earn a total of $1 million toward their education by completing the steps in the College Board Opportunity Scholarships program—steps that help them plan, prepare, and pay for college. The students were recently surprised during an emotional announcement on Good Morning America.

New York’s winners are:

• Brianna Agyapong, High School for Math Science and Engineering at the City College of New York,
• LaMia King, Queens High School of Teaching, Liberal Arts, and Sciences, and
• Nehemiah Yu, Stuyvesant High School

“My colleagues on the Board of Regents and I congratulate these deserving young women whose hard work led to this honor,” Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young said. “Brianna, LaMia and Nehemiah have overcome so much to stay on the path to college during a year of uncertainty and challenges caused by the pandemic. They are great examples of the excellence of New York’s students and serve as models for all students who strive each day to make their college dreams attainable.”

“It’s my absolute pleasure to join in congratulating Brianna, LaMia and Nehemiah on behalf of the entire Department,” Commissioner Rosa said. “This is a tremendous achievement for them, their families and their teachers who have supported their journeys in education. I’m positive we can expect even higher accomplishments to come in their bright, successful futures.”

“This scholarship is for every student, no matter their background or what school they attend. It’s about giving all students a chance to raise their hands and be seen,” said College Board CEO David Coleman. “These 25 students are as diverse and strong as the country we call home; they come from small towns, cities, and everywhere in between. What unites them is that they have overcome adversity and taken a series of small steps to earn themselves a big future.”

For additional information on the winners, click here.