Levittown HS Senior Named Finalist For The Gates Scholarship

LEVITTOWN, NY — Division Avenue High School senior Abani Ahmed is one of 600 students selected earlier this month as a finalist for The Gates Scholarship, Levittown school district officials said in a news release.

Ahmed will move on to the interview round to determine if she will be one of 300 scholarship recipients tapped by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, officials said. The scholarship, which is awarded to outstanding minority student leaders, covers the cost of college attendance that is not covered by other financial aid and family contributions, officials said. It will include tuition, fees, room and board, books and transportation, and it may include other personal costs, according to officials.

Ahmed, who has been on Division Avenue’s high honor roll throughout her high school career, was described by school officials as “a shining example of an intelligent, involved and hardworking student with many accolades under her belt.”

Ahmed is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, a AP Capstone Diploma recipient, and she was also recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar, officials said. She serves as president of Key Club, founder of the Levittown DoSomething Club, head of marketing for the Levittown Community Action Coalition’s Young Organizers United to Help, plays varsity badminton and is a gifted musician, according to school officials.

To be considered for the Gates Scholarship, a student applying must be a high school senior and identify with either African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American ethnicities, according to school officials. The student must also be a United States citizen, have a strong academic standing and be interested in enrolling in a full-time, four-year degree program at a U.S. accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university, officials said.

The scholarship recipients must have demonstrated leadership ability, personal success and an excellent academic record, officials said.