WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Council of Great City Schools named four high school graduates as inaugural winners of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships. Starting this year, the awards are to be given annually to four students -- two African-Americans and two Hispanics residing in the largest urban school districts in America -- to encourage their pursuit of technology-related degrees.
The scholarships are named after former NASA astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., who came from humble beginnings to become the first African-American to walk in space, a physician and businessman. The winners were selected from more than 400 applicants and chosen based on their academic successes and future plans, as well as their leadership and civic responsibility.
Sarah Edris from Dallas; Leangelo Hall from Homestead, Fla.; Anthony Miller from Lutz, Fla.; and Laura Montoya from Albuquerque, N.M., will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to continue their education in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
"ExxonMobil is pleased to join with the Council of the Great City Schools to create these scholarships to honor Dr. Harris and his legacy as a positive role model," stated ExxonMobil Foundation President Suzanne McCarron. "By recognizing these bright students, we are helping to pave the way for young people to discover that math and science are the keys to their future."
Administration of the scholarship program, including the application process, selection and presentation of awards, is provided by The Council of the Great City Schools. Students from member districts of the council are eligible to apply. Applications are announced in the fall through counselors of member districts, with scholarships awarded in the summer.
As the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where it has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels.
