(CHESTER, PA) – Justin Platt and Kamri Staples, seniors at Chester Upland’s STEM Academy at Showalter High School, have been named as Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) for the Class of 2014. Each year, the highly competitive GMS program selects 1,000 talented students nationwide to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. Funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and administered by the United Negro College Fund, the scholarships are awarded to outstanding minority students who demonstrate academic achievement, community service and leadership. This is the second year in a row that Chester Upland students have received these notable scholarships.
Receiver Joe Watkins stressed the importance of this achievement. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved. We have worked hard to create an environment where our students can compete, and clearly they have risen to the challenge. I applaud our young scholars and congratulate their families and all the adults who guided them along the way,” said Receiver Watkins.
The process began early in the school year when Alexis Greaves, principal at the STEM High School, selected a group of students who met the GMS requirements. He sought the help of Jean Arnold, the Chester NAACP Education Committee chairperson, who, along with several other volunteers, guided the students through the exhaustive process. Five students submitted applications and two were selected, first as finalists and then as winners.
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Superintendent Gregory Shannon noted, “This is a life-changing award and demonstrates that there are no limits to what our students, given the right tools and support, can achieve. When people get together to help young people, it changes lives.”
Meet GMS Scholars Platt and Staples
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Justin Platt is the son of Karen Smith and James Platt. In addition to being an honor roll student, Mr. Platt is on the ushers’ board at his church, volunteers at the Bernardine Center food pantry and maintains a restaurant job. This year, Mr. Platt took part in the 10th Annual Annenberg High School Science Symposium. From a very young age, he was told to do his best and never let anything stop his dreams from coming true. In the fall, Mr. Platt will attend Xavier University of Louisiana where he plans to study biology in preparation for becoming a cardiologist.
Kamri Staples is the daughter of Bettyjo Jacobs and Karl Staples. An active volunteer at church and school, Staples has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school, is president of the student government, captain of the high school tennis team, participates in track and field as a sprinter and throws the javelin, discus and shot put. Ms. Staples will attend Cornell University where she will take a pre-med course of study in preparation for becoming a neurosurgeon. Happily, Ms. Staples is following in her brother’s footsteps—last year Kameron Staples was Chester Upland School District’s first GMS scholar. He graduated from Chester High School and currently attends Brown University.
Both Mr. Platt and Ms. Staples serve as executive board members of the Chester Upland Youth Courts, a student-run court that uses restorative justice to help students make better decisions. For the past three summers, they have each participated in programs at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts.
About GMS Program Goals
More than just a scholarship, the GMS Program, established in 1999 to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential, provides its scholars with ACademic Empowerment (ACE) services to encourage academic excellence; mentoring services for academic and personal development; and an online resource center that provides internship, fellowship and scholarship information. The program also aims to increase the representation of minority groups in computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and the sciences.
About Chester Upland School District
In the NEW Chester Upland School District, Supt. Shannon has instituted academic enhancements to the curriculum, built in accountability at all levels of staff and is improving safety and security at all schools. Since he assumed leadership of the district last summer, student enrollment has grown to more than 3,000 students. He and his team offered students and the parents 44 reasons, including dramatic improvements to educational offerings, enhanced security and an improved climate in schools, to attend district schools.
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Media queries: Contact Becky Taylor at 609.240.6886 or becky@btaylorpa.com.
