Homewood-Flossmoor Senior Receives $40,000 College Board Scholarship

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR, IL — The College Board has announced that a senior from Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School was one of this year’s Complete Your Journey Opportunity Scholarship recipients. Arjun Patel — along with 24 other high school seniors from around the country from the Class of 2021 — will receive $40,000 for his college education from the College Board.

“The Homewood-Flossmoor High School community celebrates the great accomplishments of Arjun Patel, as he has been chosen as a recipient of the College Board's Opportunity Scholarship,” says Dr. Von Mansfield, District 233 superintendent. “This substantial scholarship will certainly afford Arjun the opportunity to reach his goal of attending one of the best colleges or universities in the country. It is particularly impressive as he is one of only 25 students in the nation to be honored with this prestigious award. Congratulations to Arjun and his family. He is a great representation of the students who attend Homewood-Flossmoor High School and our outstanding staff who prepare each of our students toward their next steps in attaining their college and career aspirations.”

A senior involved in the H-F chapters of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta — as well as a member of the H-F Lacrosse team — Patel says he aspires to study computer engineering at North Carolina State University next year. He was on screen during the announcement about the scholarship recipients, which was made on live television by College Board CEO David Coleman during a Good Morning, America segment last week.

“When I was on Good Morning, America, I honestly had no idea I would be receiving such a scholarship,” Patel says. “When the CEO of College Board announced that each one of us was going to receive a $40,000 scholarship, I simply didn't know how to react. I was so excited and grateful for this opportunity and couldn't believe it. It was such a surreal moment.”

Coleman explained the goal of the scholarship program that morning.

“This scholarship is for every student, no matter their background or what school they attend. It’s about giving all students a chance to raise their hands and be seen,” says Coleman. “These 25 students are as diverse and strong as the country we call home; they come from small towns, cities, and everywhere in between. What unites them is that they have overcome adversity and taken a series of small steps to earn themselves a big future.”

More than 1 million U.S. students have joined the College Board Opportunity Scholarships program since it launched in December 2018. Students have won more than $10 million in scholarships. In addition to the 25 $40,000 Complete Your Journey winners from the Class of 2021, nearly 4,000 students from 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands earned $3.6 million in smaller scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000, including current H-F senior Khiya Jones, who was awarded $1,000 this year. At Homewood-Flossmoor since 2018, high school seniors have earned a total of $42,000 from the College Board.

“Applying for the Opportunity Scholarship was very easy and straightforward,” says Patel. “It laid out the steps to successfully apply to college and helped me not fall behind in the stressful college application process.”

Current high school juniors in the Class of 2022 who complete these six college planning steps can earn six separate chances to receive at least $500 from the College Board.

1. Build Your College List: Students get started by exploring colleges they’re interested in.

2. Practice for the SAT: Students use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® to get ready for test day.

3. Explore Scholarships: Students find scholarships and other aid to help pay for college.

4. Strengthen Your College List: Students make sure their list has a mix of reach, match and safety schools.

5. Complete the FAFSA: Students complete the free government form to apply for financial aid.

6. Apply to Colleges: Students apply to two or more colleges they want to attend.

The College Board has dedicated $25 million during five years to the program that lays out six simple steps all students can take to get to college. Research shows that completing specific steps can help clarify the complex college planning process, especially for low-income and first-generation students. When students finish all six steps, they’ll be entered into the drawing for a $40,000 scholarship. Class of 2022 students who opt in now and get started by building their college list on BigFuture by June 30 will be eligible for the next $40,000 Complete Your Journey scholarship. For additional information on the Class of 2021 winners and to help Class of 2022 students sign up to begin earning scholarships now, click visit the College Board’s Big Future website here.

The College Board is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of more than 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools. For further information, visit collegeboard.org.

This press release was produced by Homewood-Flossmoor High School. The views expressed here are the author’s own.