St. Paul Student Awarded $40,000 College Scholarship
ST. PAUL, MN – August 29, 2024 – Isaiah Weeks, a senior at Johnson Senior High School (JHS), was surprised with a $40,000 scholarship from the College Board and BigFuture during a ceremony at the school Friday afternoon.Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stacey Stanley and JHS Principal Jamil Payton were present for the presentation.Weeks earned the scholarship by completing planning actions on BigFuture, a free online platform sponsored by the College Board.Completing at least one key step on the platform entered him into a monthly drawing for students in the class of 2026 and 2027.Weeks, who plans to major in cyber security at the university of Wisconsin-Stout, was presented with a novelty check by Principal Payton.
“I had no idea why principal Payton invited us,” Weeks said, recalling his initial confusion. “But I knew somthing was up.” He added, “I was very surprised. It definitely caught me by surprise.”
The presentation took place on the final day of professional advancement for JHS staff before the start of the 2025-26 school year,with the auditorium filled with teachers and school personnel.The celebratory day continued for johnson High School, as the football team secured a 57-30 victory over St. Agnes that evening, marking their frist win of the season. The scholarship and football win created a memorable day for Weeks, his family, JHS staff, and the wider community.
