The Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS) is a program funded by a 1.6 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

This year, six Montgomery County Public School students earned this scholarship.  Two of the students that won are Springbrook seniors Donald Ogochukwu Anyanwu and Samiza Palmer.

“I’m just really grateful, a part of me can’t believe it,” Ogochukwu Anyanwu said.

The program chooses 1,000 students a year to receive a full ride scholarship to the college or university of their choice.

“I’m really happy. I mean who doesn’t want a free education?” Palmer explained.

Both students admitted that they had tremendous help, not only from their parents, but their teachers as well.

“Samiza was a student in my IB history class, and I knew that she was a leader both inside and outside of the classroom,” history teacher Sharon Cohen said. “I was able to write her a very specific recommendation, and she really deserves this.”

Counselors also offered assistance during this process.

“I feel like I didn’t do that much to help Donald. It was his own ambition that got him where he is, but I always gave him information about leadership opportunities that he took advantage of,” counselor Mia Shin said.

    Palmer plans to study at the University of Pennsylvania, while Ogochukwu Anyanwu has narrowed his choices to the University of Maryland, College Park and George Washington University.