D.C. Students Get Surprise Scholarships to GW

By James Doubek • •

Nine unsuspecting D.C. area high school students got the surprise of a lifetime Wednesday: a full scholarship to The George Washington University.

GW President Steven Knapp and a "prize patrol" hand-delivered acceptance letters to students in eight high schools. The Stephen Joel Trachtenberg scholarship is a full ride -- tuition, room, board, books and fees are all included.

"I applied to several schools but GW was at the top of the list," said Byron Fullerton of McKinley Technology High School.

The annual program has given the scholarships to 155 students over the past 26 years, according to the school. GW said it chooses recipients based on a combination of merit-based factors, including GPA, recommendations, leadership and extracurricular activities.

"The best part of my job is giving these scholarships to such talented and hardworking young women and men," Knapp said.

The 2015 winners are:

Mario Velasquez of Benjamin Banneker Academic High School

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