Two Flint students heading to college free of charge on prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship (1149 hits)
By Blake Thorne | bthorne1@mlive.com
FLINT, Michigan — Billionaire Bill Gates and his wife are sending two Flint high school seniors to college free of charge.
Northern High School's Marcus Johnson and Southwestern Academy's Elijah Noronha are heading have both been named Gates Millennium Scholars.
The prestigious scholarship covers all college costs as well as offers further funding for graduate school for 1,000 students each year.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation selects 1,000 Millennium Scholars each year.
The scholarship is awarded to minority students eligible for financial aid and is based on grades, extra-curricular work and an intensive application.
Johnson, 18, plans to study biology at the University of Michigan and then medical school to become a dermatologist.
On the essay portion of the scholarship application, Johnson remembers writing about what motivates him to succeed in school.
"My family," Johnson said. "My little brother and sister. I want them to look up to me and be able to be better than me."
Johnson currently has a 3.875 grade point average. Along with school work, he's filled his time with the National Honor Society, community clean up work and other extra-curricular activities.
