2022 Milwaukee Public Schools seniors receive $107 million in scholarships

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) announced that students across the district received a record $107 million in scholarships in 2022. 

During the MPS scholarship reveal, some of the recipients spoke about how grateful they are to get the help. 

A'Ajanae Bowie just graduated from the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education. 

"Sometimes you have more faith in me than I had in myself," she said of her advisor, wiping her tears in front of other MPS staff. 

Bowie says the tearful "thank you" was because of the people who pushed her to do well in high school. 

"Coming from where I came from, you have to be a hard worker," said Bowie. "It's about discipline to get to where I needed to be." 

That discipline earned her four years paid tuition to Alverno college. 

People clapped and rang cowbells in excitement for all of the scholarship recipients. 

"For personal reasons, I don't have a lot of opportunities," said Rafael Pavon Contreras. Pavon spent all four of his high school summers at a college prep program in Madison. Now, thanks to a scholarship, he'll be attending UW-Madison as an engineering student.  

His family is proud. 

"We're a big family -- seven of us. I'll be leaving them," said Pavon. " I'll get a little home sick. I am very excited to start a new chapter."

Many of these students who received scholarships have worked multiple jobs and taken college classes while still in high school.

These scholarships will relieve some of the pressure they face.

Tarrieon Fraklin will have his first year at UW-Milwaukee paid for, plus other college essentials. 

"It would benefit me by not taking out loans, and it would help me get some of the college stuff I need like laptop [and] books," said Franklin.