Three District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) students were offered full, four-year scholarships to The George Washington University (GWU) today during surprise events at their schools. The students, Byron Fullerton from McKinley Technology High School, Carlos Palencia from School Without Walls and Mario Velasquez from Benjamin Banneker Senior High School, were offered admission and the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship (SJT) which covers all tuition, room and board, books and fees for four years at the university, totaling over $200,000 per student.

“I am thrilled and proud of Carlos, Mario and Byron, our talented, driven, dynamic and bright young men who received this year’s Trachtenberg scholarship,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “The fact that these scholars also happen to be young men of color is a coincidence, but it emphasizes to me what is possible for all of our students, and why our investment to empower male students of color is so important. These young men have a world of possibility ahead of them – and now a little less to worry about with this incredible scholarship opportunity. We greatly appreciate GWU’s continued generosity and commitment to our students, and along with their principals and all of DCPS, we celebrate their success and this impressive achievement.”

Byron Fullerton would be the first SJT scholar to attend the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Carlos Palencia, who will be the first member of his family to attend college, held internships at organizations like Fannie Mae and HomeFree-USA while attending School Without Walls. Mario Velasquez will pursue a civil engineering degree to use to improve living conditions in El Salvador, his home country.

More information about the scholarship and today’s recipients is available on the GWToday website.