District Five student earns BigFuture Scholarship from College Board

College Board announced that Chapin High School student April Williams has earned one of two monthly $40,000 scholarships through BigFuture, the College Board’s online guide that helps students plan for life after high school.

“I am deeply honored to receive this amazing scholarship,” Williams said. “This scholarship opens up more opportunities for my future that I didn’t have before. I plan to further my education in business management at a university in the Fall.”

Powered by College Board, BigFuture simplifies the path to life after high school by recommending small steps that all students—no matter their high school—can take at just the right time to explore career interests, identify potential majors, find colleges and scholarships, and access financial aid. It rewards the effort students take by providing chances at scholarships.

“The Eagle family is incredibly proud of April, not only for the scholarship, but for the young lady she is,” Chapin High School Principal Michael Ames said. “This is proof that hard work and commitment to one’s education can pay big dividends in the long run.”

All class of 2024 and class of 2025 students are now eligible to win $500 and $40,000 scholarships they can use at two- or four-year institutions. There are no essay, test score, citizenship status, family income, or minimum GPA requirements. Drawings for $500 and $40,000 are held every month. Students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year have extra chances at scholarships and earn double the entries for every drawing.

“Now more than ever, students need simple and credible tools to help them choose the college and career that’s right for them,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We’ve integrated these scholarship steps into BigFuture so every student—no matter where they are on their journey to college—can take the steps April Williams has taken to raise their hands and earn themselves a big future.”

College Board has dedicated $25 million to the program that lays out six simple steps all students can take to get to college. More than $16 million in scholarships have been awarded to more 19,000 students since the program launched in December 2018. Class of 2024 and class of 2025 students with College Board accounts in the United States and U.S. territories are automatically entered into monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 by completing specific steps on bigfuture.org.