Seven students from the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Class of 2025 have been named recipients of the highly competitive Gates Scholarship, a full-ride award granted annually to only 300 students nationwide.
Selected from a pool of more than 34,000 applicants, the students will receive last-dollar funding to cover the full cost of attendance at any accredited four-year college or university in the United States. The award includes tuition, housing, meals, books, and other essential expenses not covered by other financial aid or scholarships.
When learning that seven students were APS scholars, district Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson congratulated the seniors for being steadfast in pursuing a path to higher education.
“Earning the Gates Scholarship is a recognition of your hard work, perseverance, and commitment to academic excellence,” Dr. Johnson said. “As you move forward, embrace the opportunities ahead and remember that your education will take you wherever you want to go, allowing you to truly make a difference in the world. Each of you reflects the excellence everywhere that we strive to provide for every student in Atlanta Public Schools.”
The selection process is rigorous. Scholars must demonstrate academic excellence, typically ranking in the top 10 percent of their class, alongside leadership abilities, emotional maturity, and a strong commitment to community service. All recipients are eligible for the Pell Grant and plan to enroll full-time at a U.S.-based college or university.
The scholarship was launched in 2017 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to remove financial barriers for outstanding minority students from low-income backgrounds and to support their academic journeys and long-term success. To date, the program has helped more than 3,000 students attend college.
Beyond financial assistance, the Gates Scholarship provides holistic support to help scholars thrive throughout college and their future careers. The seven APS recipients aspire to pay that support forward by shaping brighter futures, not only for themselves, but also for their communities.
Meet the Class of 2025 Gates Scholars for Atlanta Public Schools:
Zachariah Ardister, Carver Early College
Zachariah Ardister is a senior at Carver Early College and the Salutatorian of his class. He plans to attend Colgate University and major in History. Zachariah’s career goal is to become an obstetrician and gynecologist. In the future, he hopes to assist in improving healthcare for all women of color.
Naija Dubose, Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Naija Dubose is a senior at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy and in the top 10% of her class. She plans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana and major in pre-med while minoring in psychology. Naija’s career goal is to become an obstetrician and gynecologist. In the future, she plans on owning her own medical practice.
Maverick George, Drew Charter Academy
Maverick George is a senior at Charles R. Drew Charter School, where he serves as Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta and is a proud member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, and the Peer Leadership Cohort. A dedicated scholar-athlete, he also plays on the varsity soccer team. This fall, Maverick will attend Wake Forest University to major in International Business. He hopes to one day merge his passions for soccer, business, and community service into a global career.
Issata Nkromo, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
Issata Nkromo is a KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School senior and the Salutatorian and STAR student of her senior class. Issata plans to attend Emory University and major in linguistics, with future aspirations of becoming a speech pathologist.
Jalen Smallwood, Mays High School
Jalen Smallwood is a senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School and is in the top 5% of his class. He is committed to the Georgia Institute of Technology and plans to major in Computer Science. His aspirations are to become a computer scientist, software engineer, and computer engineer. He aspires to develop his own apps and software and operate his own business.
Roni Villegas-Hernandez, Mays High School
Roni Villegas-Hernandez is the Valedictorian of his senior class at Benjamin E. Mays High School. He will attend Georgia Institute of Technology and major in mechanical engineering, aiming to become a mechanical engineer and philanthropist.
Catara Williams, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
Catara Williams is a high-achieving senior at Kipp Atlanta Collegiate High School, ranking third in her class. She plans to study Neuroscience at the Georgia Institute of Technology, with the dual goal of becoming a pediatric psychiatrist while pursuing her passion for stardom.