Tokay’s Gill receives Gates Scholarship
It’s the dream of a student to receive a full college scholarship that will pay for four years of undergraduate studies.
Jasmin Gill’s dream became reality when she was informed that she was one of 300 high school students to receive the Gates Scholarship. The Gates Scholarship pays for the full cost of attendance that is not covered by other financial aid or expected family contributions.
As the class valedictorian, Gill displayed the qualities that the scholarship committee required: an outstanding academic record, leadership ability, and exceptional personal success skills.
“I was extremely excited,” Gill said after receiving an email informing her about the scholarship. Gill was relieved that she would not have to worry about her parents paying for her college or taking out loans.
Gill has chosen to attend the University of California at Davis where she plans to major in global disease biology, the study of diseases and their relationship to the health of people, animals, plants in the environment in a global context.
As Tokay’s top senior, Gill said she had a routine for her studies.
“I feel like I didn’t study that hard,” Gill said. “I pick up ideas in class. Homework was my way of retaining information rather than studying.”
Looking back, Gill believed the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.”
She thanked her family for being a big chunk of her success.
“My mom was my biggest motivation to be successful,” Gill said. “She always pushed education as a way out of circumstances.”
Her older sister Avneet, a junior at University of California at Davis, was a “groundbreaker” for taking Advanced Placement classes and helped provide focus in school. Her father taught Gill lessons about working hard in whatever she did.
Later this summer, Gill will fly to Dallas and attend a convention along with the other winners of the Gates Scholarship.