7 JCPS seniors received surprise scholarships: See their reactions

Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal
·4 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Seven Jefferson County Public School seniors were surprised Friday with an unexpected visit and oversized check from Superintendent Marty Pollio.

Combined, the seniors received $70,000 from the Superintendent’s Student Scholarship Fund, made possible through donations by JCPS employees and attendees of Pollio's State of the District Address.

Have a graduating senior? We want to hear from you!

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” Pollio said in a news release. “We get to help some deserving students, whose families may not have the means to afford college, realize their dream. These talented JCPS students are going to further their education and make a difference in the world. We couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Pollio started the scholarship fund in 2019, giving away $48,000 that first year.

Students had to apply for the scholarship and were required to have at least a cumulative 2.5 GPA, as well as demonstrate financial need.

Below are the recipients with information about each, provided by JCPS.

Naira Abedi, Doss - $7,000

Naira Abedi, a student at Doss High School, gets hugs after receiving a $7,000 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.
Naira Abedi, a student at Doss High School, gets hugs after receiving a $7,000 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.

Born in a small village in Uganda, Naira’s family had limited access to healthcare and medicine. She was often ill as a child and required frequent hospitalizations. The village doctor helped her family, and the memory of this kindness inspired her to pursue her own career in medicine. Naira plans to attend Bellarmine University.

Jonah Belance, Southern - $10,500

Southern High Student Jonah Belance is overcome with emotion after he received a $10,500 scholarship check to UofL from JCPS Friday morning. He said the school's teachers, his friends and his mother, who works an overnight shift, helped him with his success. May 19, 2023.
Southern High Student Jonah Belance is overcome with emotion after he received a $10,500 scholarship check to UofL from JCPS Friday morning. He said the school's teachers, his friends and his mother, who works an overnight shift, helped him with his success. May 19, 2023.

Jonah grew up in a low-income, single-parent household and was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. Despite early struggles in school, he is an honor student and president of both the Black Student Union and the senior class at Southern High School. Jonah has won numerous awards for his community service including the YMCA Youth Character Award. He plans to attend the University of Louisville and major in biomedical science.

Raven Brackens, Marion C. Moore - $10,500

Raven Brackens, a student at Moore High School, receives a $10,500 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.
Raven Brackens, a student at Moore High School, receives a $10,500 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.

Raven started a small business in elementary school when she discovered a passion for baking. It was this passion that led her to attend Marion C. Moore High School where she is in the culinary program and recently competed in the national ProStart Invitational. Raven lost her mother at age four to pancreatic cancer and attributes her success to her maternal grandmother and a strong network of aunts and uncles. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky in the fall and study food science.

Saif Al Khafaji, Waggener - $10,500

Saif Al Khafaji, a student at Waggener High School, receives a $10,500 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.
Saif Al Khafaji, a student at Waggener High School, receives a $10,500 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.

Saif is an Iraqi refugee who immigrated to the United States last year. He works full-time and is also the guardian of his two younger brothers, both JCPS students. Saif has dreamed of being a pilot since he was 14 and has completed more than 70 hours of flight training, recently flying solo for the first time. Saif plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University to study aviation and obtain his commercial pilot license.

Tamiya King, Louisville Male - $10,500

Male High School senior Tamiya King reacts while she receives a $10,500 scholarship check to UofL from JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio Friday morning. King wants to become an attorney. May 19, 2023.
Male High School senior Tamiya King reacts while she receives a $10,500 scholarship check to UofL from JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio Friday morning. King wants to become an attorney. May 19, 2023.

Tamiya spent the school year as a full-time, dual-credit student at the University of Louisville. She will graduate with more than eighteen hours of college credit she can apply to her studies next year at Western Kentucky University (WKU). Tamiya has always wanted to be an attorney and plans to attend the Brandeis School of Law after finishing her bachelor’s degree at WKU.

Ulises Vega Rabell, Doss - $10,500

Ulises Vega Rabel, a student at Doss High School, receives a $10,500 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.
Ulises Vega Rabel, a student at Doss High School, receives a $10,500 scholarship check from superintendent Marty Pollio. The money comes from the Jefferson County Public Schools Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund. $70,000 was awarded on Friday, May 19, 2023, to students at six JCPS high schools.

Ulises immigrated to the United States from Cuba four years ago. He faced many obstacles such as his parent’s divorce, acclimating to American culture and learning a new language. As a first-generation college student, Ulises worked diligently to find help and resources to navigate the college application process. He plans to attend the University of Louisville and major in business administration.

Gia “Huy” Tran, Iroquois - $10,500

Toetta Taul, principal at Iroquois High School, congratulates senior Gia Tran after he received a $10,500 scholarship check to UofL from JCPS Friday morning. Tran wants to study electrical engineering in college. May 19, 2023.
Toetta Taul, principal at Iroquois High School, congratulates senior Gia Tran after he received a $10,500 scholarship check to UofL from JCPS Friday morning. Tran wants to study electrical engineering in college. May 19, 2023.

Huy came to the United States from Vietnam in eighth grade. He will be a first-generation college student and is valedictorian in his class with a 4.2 weighted grade point average. Huy is a participant in the Aspire Higher program, which helped him through the college application process. He is passionate about the environment and plans to attend the University of Louisville to pursue a career in solar engineering.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS Superintendent’s Student Scholarship Fund 2023 recipients