Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) announced today that two seniors from John Muir High School were awarded the highly-coveted Gates Millennium Scholarship for outstanding minority high school students. The scholarship is awarded to students with significant financial needs so that they can attend the undergraduate and graduate institutions of their choice. John Muir High School seniors Claudia Lima-Rocha and Breana Powell were among 1,000 students nationwide to be designated as Gates Millennium Scholars.

"I congratulate Ms. Lima-Rocha and Ms. Powell on winning this prestigious award," said Superintendent Edwin Diaz. "These two students embody the promise that every student can achieve academic excellence, and I join their families, their teachers and the entire PUSD community in celebrating this recognition."

The Gates Millennium Scholarship was founded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with financial need to reach their highest potential. Candidates are selected based on grades, leadership ability, and participation in community or extracurricular activities. The scholarship covers all tuition for both undergraduate and graduate school, should the student choose to continue with postgraduate studies. Scholarships were awarded to seniors across the country representing all 50 states.

Breana Powell will study film and creative writing at the University of Southern California. Ms. Powell is senior editor of Muir’s Blazer student newspaper and has served on its staff since her freshman year. She is a dedicated member of several clubs on campus, notably yearbook and film.

Claudia Lima-Rocha will begin her pre-med studies at the University of California Berkeley in the fall. Ms. Lima-Rocha has been a member of the soccer and swim teams since her freshman year, serving as team captain her junior and senior years. She is also a member of the Puente program and has dedicated numerous hours to volunteer work and community service.

Both students have consistently enrolled in rigorous honors and advanced courses while maintaining consistently high GPAs.

"I am so proud of both of these young ladies," said Muir High School Principal Sheryl Orange. "They model the characteristics of excellence inside and outside of the classroom, and they are great ambassadors both for their families as well as the Muir community."