Donaldsonville High early college option senior earns prestigious gates scholarship

Donaldsonville High School and Early College Option graduating senior Brittany Collins is one of only 300 students across the country to be named a Gates Scholar and a member of the The Gates Scholarship Inaugural class of 2018. Over 28,700 students applied for this highly competitive scholarship from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to The Gates Scholarship Team, Collins is "now a member of an elite group of young leaders--all of whom represent the very pinnacle of academic achievement and have also left indelible marks on their respective high school communities, for service and commitment."

In addition to funding postsecondary students, the program will provide Collins with access to a range of special services, including mentoring, academic support, career and internship guidance, advice, internship and job opportunities, and online courses.

As an Early College Option student, Collins will graduate this May with both a high school diploma and an Associate's Degree from River Parishes Community College. Following her dual graduations, she plans to enroll at Louisiana State University and ultimately become a pediatric oncologist.

For more information about The Gates Scholarship, visit www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship. For more information about Ascension Public Schools, visitwww.apsb.org.

Contributed by Ascension Public Schools