‘A leader’: Florida high school senior receives first-ever Superintendent Scholarship

Nicolle Osorio
·2 min read
2

Flagler-Palm Coast High School senior Christina Nguyen had a pleasant surprise waiting for her at the principal’s office.

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When Nguyen walked in, she received the good news that Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt chose her to receive the first-ever Florida prepaid Superintendent Scholarship.

The scholarship is possible thanks to a partnership between Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans and Flagler Schools.

Nguyen will have a 2-year Florida College Plan Scholarship of about $8,000.

“I can’t breathe!” Nguyen said after she saw the check. She is excited to begin her college journey after being accepted into the University of Central Florida to pursue a medical career.

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“Acquiring these degrees will show the world that everyone has what it takes if they want it enough,” Nguyen wrote in her application. “Not only will I be helping underprivileged individuals seeking medical attention, but I will also advocate for students wishing to pursue an education.”

Viki White is one of Nguyen’s teachers. She is proud of her student and wrote a recommendation letter for the scholarship.

“During this time, I have had the pleasure of watching her grow and mature as a student and as a leader among her peers,” she said. “From the start, it was clear that her classmates liked Christina, and since then, she has developed into a leader.”

Nguyen has a GPA of 5.0769 and more than 200 hours of community service.

She is also involved with school organizations such as the Student Government Association and the National Honor Society.

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Also, she created Village Bridges, a platform to help Vietnamese students through college admission.

Mittelstadt said she is impressed by how Nguyen gives back to her culture and community.

“Christina’s story is a powerful one. She’s a child of Vietnamese parents and has been able to embrace that culture as well as her American culture successfully,” Mittelstadt said. “What made her application stand out from the other 15 submitted was her humility and passion for helping others who may feel marginalized.”

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