ROWLAND UNIFIED STUDENT EARNS $40,000
COLLEGE BOARD SCHOLARSHIP
Award Goes to Rowland High School Senior Waseem Salamah
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – MAY 19, 2020 – The Rowland Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Julie Mitchell, announced that John A. Rowland High School senior Waseem Salamah was one of 25 high school winners from across the nation to earn a $40,000 College Board Opportunity Scholarship. Students were selected after completing all six college planning steps laid out in the College Board Opportunity Scholarships Program. Juniors (Class of 2021) can take part in next year’s $40,000 Complete Your Journey scholarship by July 31.
‘This scholarship means the world to me because I can now pursue my dream of becoming a pilot and I plan on doing this by attending Mt. San Antonio College to pursue a career in Aviation,” said Salamah. “I am very thankful to the Rowland High School staff and teachers who told me about this scholarship and encouraged me to take the journey. Without them, and the support of my parents, I would not have been afforded of this opportunity. Thank you to the College Board for this scholarship, you will forever be a reason for my success.”
Research shows that completing specific steps helps clarify the complex college planning process, especially for low-income and first-generation students. Class of 2021 students who opt in now and get started by building their college list on BigFuture™ by July 31 will be eligible for the next $40,000 Complete Your Journey scholarship. For further information click here.
“We are so proud of Waseem and all the students who demonstrated the importance of college planning by taking one or more of the six steps laid out in this first of its kind scholarship program. It is great to see those efforts and planning rewarded,” said Mitchell. “We encourage all of our high school juniors to sign up for these scholarships and begin qualifying for invaluable aid during these challenging times.”
To qualify for the Complete Your Journey $40,000 College Board Opportunity scholarship drawing, participants completed these 6 college planning steps:
- Build Your College List: Students get started by exploring colleges they’re interested in (700 Build Your College List scholarships, each worth $500)
- Practice for the SAT: Students use Official SAT® Practice on Khan Academy® (1,500 Practice for the SAT scholarships, each worth $1,000)
- Improve Your Score: Students show how practice pays off by improving their scores (150 Improve Your Score scholarships, each worth $2,000)
- Strengthen Your College List: Students make sure their list has a mix of reach, match, and safety schools (300 Strengthen Your College List scholarships, each worth $500)
- Complete the FAFSA: Students fill out the free government form to apply for financial aid (800 Complete the FAFSA® scholarships, each worth $1,000)
- Apply to Colleges: Students apply to the colleges they want to attend (500 Apply to Colleges scholarships, each worth $1,000)
John A. Rowland High School is a 2020 California Distinguished School and has been ranked consistently as one of the top high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine. For more information visit www.rowlandhs.org. It is part of the Rowland Unified School District, that has garnered numerous state and national awards and is proud of its 19 schools with 13,200 students in the communities of Rowland Heights, Walnut, La Puente, City of Industry, and West Covina. More than 5,000 adults (18+) are also served by the Rowland Adult and Community Education School. For more information about Rowland Unified, the community can call (626) 965-2541 or download the free Rowland USD Mobile App for iOS and Android phones/devices that has news, school calendars, a safety Tip Line, and helpful parent and District resources. The public can also follow Rowland schools on Facebook.com/RowlandUSD Twitter @RowlandSchools or visit www.RowlandSchools.org.
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools. For further information, visit collegeboard.org.
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