Any student who applies for The Gates Scholarship knows the long odds of landing the prestigious award that covers all college costs.

This year, for example, the organization selected 750 students nationwide from a pool of more than 61,000 applicants.

Three of them are from Fresno Unified, giving the district and the community reason to celebrate. The local Gates scholars are Juan Morales Lopez of Sunnyside High School, Eliana Palomera of McLane High, and Bryan Cabrera Garcia of Duncan Polytechnical, the district said in a Friday news release.

Lopez, a member of the UCSF Doctors Academy at Sunnyside High and one of the school’s valedictorians, will attend UC Davis this fall. His scholarship will cover tuition, fees, books, housing and meals throughout his undergraduate studies.

Palomera, a McLane High senior, plans to attend UCLA this fall to pursue a career in neuroscience. She spent months completing the rigorous application process, which included documenting her vast volunteer experience, writing four essays, and participating in extensive interviews.

Garcia is one of Duncan’s valedictorians who is also part of its Heavy Truck pathway. He plans to attend UC San Diego in the fall and major in biology to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Said Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her: “This recognition is more than an academic achievement, it’s a life-changing opportunity that opens doors, lifts financial burdens, and directly aligns with our goal of college and career readiness.”

About the Gates Scholarship

The organization’s website states that “The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.”

Scholars receive funding for the full cost of attendance not already covered by other financial aid. Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, books, housing and food, and may include additional personal costs.

The program and its predecessor, Gates Millennium Scholars, launched in 1999 with $1 billion grant from Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Help Beyond Funding

In addition to funding, The Gates Scholarship engages with its scholars their institutions to ensure they have access to needed resources and services from their first to last day of classes, through graduation, and transition into chosen careers.

The Ideal Candidate

The Gates Scholarship describes students with this track record as an ideal candidate: