Bradenton Student Wins $40,000 Scholarship

A Manatee High School student saw her American dream come true today — or maybe it was her parents' American dream.

Katty Pierre-Charles, 18, won a $40,000 Leaders 4 Life Fellowship from Take Stock in Children and the Asofsky family for her dedication to academics and school life.

Katty won the $10,000 annual scholarship after submitting a video about her academic career, her struggles and her goals. The teen, who has been active in extra-curricular activities and academics while managing diabetes, said determination and drive helped her to win the award.

Katty was 7 months old when her parents moved the family to Badenton from Haiti. Her parents came to Bradenton for better opportunities for themselves and their children. Katty's father works at Tropicana and her mother his a certified nursing assistant.

Katty enrolled in the Take Stock in Children Program when she was in the 8th grade and has worked with her mentor Judith Leopold to make sure she was on track academically, reading books and taking classes that challenged her.

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It's clear that Leopold and Katty built a lasting relationship through the program. At Wednesday's surprise party for Katty to announce that she won the scholarship Leopold reminded the teenager that she is special.

Katty has already been accepted to USF for her freshman year. She is waiting to hear from New College and St. Leo's College before announcing where she will attend school next year.

Katty, who has five siblings, has been an example to them. Her sister Ruth, who is a junior at Manatee High, said Katty's example has helped to focus her own academic efforts.

Enock Pierre-Charles said he is proud of Katty and all of her oefforts in school.

"I always encourage my children to get educated, I knew it was the path to success," he said. "She took my words very seriously."

While the party was designed to be a surprise for Katty, her father said he was not surprised to learn about the award.He said he knew her hard work and dedication would win her opportunities.

"I knew," he said. "She's a good kid."