By Tristan Shaver and Monique Freeman Staff Writers
In another first for Benjamin Carson High School, the members of the first graduating class are beginning to receive acceptance letters from colleges. As of early February, 75% have been accepted to college and the letters keep coming.
Many students are also getting impressive scholarship offers. A number of students have total offers over $100,000.
Several students have been offered full scholarships to Alma College.
Senior Vicenta Vargas will be attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on a full tuition scholarship.
“I am so proud of myself for being admitted to such an amazing university. I cannot believe that I am one step further in accomplishing all my dreams and goals,” Vargas said.
While most of Benjamin Carson’s seniors are making plans for going to college, five students have very different plans — they will be joining the armed services and postponing college studies until after their military training.
Ricardo Gelzaines, Jasmine Grant, Tyray Burnett, Robert Moore, and Angel Jones are making plans to go into various branches of the military.
Because they have completed three years of JROTC in high school, they will be advanced to the rank of E-3 which will put them 12 to 18 months ahead of anyone without JROTC experience. They will already know how to do basic military movements which also helps them get into leadership positions.
Petty Officer Douglas Williams has taught them for three years.
“I’m very proud of them because they made their decision on their own,” Williams said. “I never tell a student they should join the military. I tell them they should look at their options and decide which route is best for them.
“I have no doubt in my mind that they will go very far in the military because of the way they show leadership in class. I believe they made up their mind last year about joining the military because they all stepped up and were chosen to be on the staff here at Benjamin Carson.”
