Gilroy, CA – Gilroy Unified School District students excelled in College Board assessments and schoolwork to earn these awards, which colleges use to identify academically competitive underrepresented students

Students from three GUSD high schools have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

Eighteen students from the Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy (GECA) received National Hispanic Recognition from the College Board:

One GECA student received National Indigenous Recognition: Alexandra Meriales.

Ten Christopher High School students received National Rural and Small Town Recognition:

• CHS Senior, Daanesh Bogale, also received National African American Recognition from the College Board.
• CHS Seniors, Emma Davis, Juliana Betanzos, Paul Crocker and Sicily Garza, received National Hispanic Recognition from the College Board.
• Four students from Gilroy High School received National Hispanic Recognition from the College Board:  Junior, Ana Torrico, and three Seniors: Julian Anhder, Vennette Valencia and Yoali Cruz.
• GHS Senior, Kehsigha Njinimbam, received National African American Recognition.

“We’re thrilled that our students have earned this recognition. We are very proud of them for their achievements in their classrooms and on College Board assessments,” said Dr. Deborah A. Flores, Superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District. “These programs help students from underrepresented backgrounds stand out to colleges during the college admissions process.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students will be invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.

“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.”