LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Several Jefferson County Public Schools seniors are getting the best graduation gift they could imagine—a scholarship to help pay for college.

What You Need To Know

  • Eight JCPS seniors were surprised to learn they are getting scholarships for college

  • The JCPS Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund is giving out $68,7000

  • Each student has overcome some obstacle to be able to graduate high school

  • The scholarship fund started in 2020 and 28 students have been helped

JCPS announced eight students who have overcome obstacles in their lives to make it to graduation will get a boost from the JCPS Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. The students are receiving a total of $68,700 from the fund. Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio surprised the students at their schools today with the news. The scholarships can be used at any school the students choose.

“Delivering the news of scholarship help to these deserving students makes this one of my favorite days of the year,” Pollio said. “These students, whose families might not be able to afford college without significant financial help, are going to make a difference in the world. They are terrific ambassadors for their families, schools, JCPS and the city of Louisville. We couldn’t be prouder of them.” 

Each student wrote personal statements, prepared presentations outlining their plans and their financial needs. They also were interviewed by Pollio and other JCPS administrators.

Scholarship recipients are:

Isaiah Duran, Louisville Male - $10,200

A valedictorian at Male, Duran balances his academic coursework with his job at UPS as a participant in the School to Work program. He has served on two mission trips to Guatemala and builds housing in his community through Habitat for Humanity. Isaiah plans to become a civil engineer and will attend the University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering.

A’nya Ellison, duPont Manual - $10,200

Ellison is a varsity cheerleader at Manual. She has never received a grade other than an A since middle school. She earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, is a member of the National Honor Society, President of the Kentucky Leaders of Tomorrow Program, and has won employee of the month at Chick-Fil-A three times. She will attend the University of Kentucky with a major in Health Science on the Pre-Pharmacy track.

Erika Infante, Doss - $10,200

Two years ago, Infante convinced her parents to leave Cuba and come to America. Erika and her family endured a 13 day journey that involved all methods of transportation, including boats, planes, motorcycles and horses. She has flourished at Doss as a member of the Hospitality & Marketing Academy. She recently won both local and state competitions in marketing and represented Doss at the national DECA convention in California. Erika will attend the University of Louisville next year.

Audrey Duran Martinez, Fairdale - $5,000

While completing internships at Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health, Duran Martinez noticed that none of the doctors she worked with were Hispanic. This inspired her to pursue a career in medicine in order to help underserved communities. She will attend Notre Dame University this Fall, where she plans to study biochemistry and French. 

Vanessa Martinez Garduno, Atherton - $2,500

Martinez Garduno completed the Media Arts pathway at Atherton and attended the Governor’s School for the Arts for both film and photography. She will attend Loyola University in Chicago next year and plans to advocate for undocumented people and other minorities who may believe that higher education is not possible.

Saana Mugabo, Central - $10,200

Mugabo participates in the pre-med magnet program at Central, where she also serves as a School Ambassador. She is Treasurer of the African Student Association and has taken eleven Advanced Placement and dual credit courses. Mugabo maintains her status on the Honor Roll while having a part-time job. She will attend the University of Kentucky this fall.

Shalom Ndimubwihisho, Southern - $10,200

Ndimubwihisho is a Rwandan refugee who came to Louisville in 2018. After an initial struggle of adjusting to the cultural differences and learning a new language, Ndimubwihisho became an honor student. He is president of Southern’s Black Student Union and a member of the wrestling, track and soccer teams. Shalom will attend the University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering in the fall. 

Sabina Rai, Fern Creek - $10,200

Rai lost her father at seven years old and her mother in 2021. She graduated a year early in order to help her family and will attend Bellarmine University, where she plans to major in Nursing. Rai was inspired to be a nurse after seeing how hard the nurses worked to help her mother when she became ill. 

Since the scholarship fund began in 2020, 28 JCPS seniors have received checks to help them with college expenses.

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