College Board’s BigFuture announced that Dawson High School student Aminah Khan had earned one of two monthly $40,000 scholarships for completing key college and career planning steps. BigFuture is a free online resource that helps students take the right first step after high school. Aminah is an active member of her school community, serving on both the student council and DECA. Her perseverance and strong work ethic have inspired her peers and educators; she is the second student from Dawson High School to receive this prestigious scholarship.
With the rising concern from families on how to afford plans after high school for college and a career, BigFuture helps encourage students to take important actions toward their future. Every month, BigFuture scholarships reward students who complete steps in the planning process—with more than $16 million granted since the program launched in December 2018.
The BigFuture Scholarships are unique, and the requirements for eligibility are simple. Students are eligible to win $500 and $40,000 scholarships they can use at two or four-year institutions.
There are six steps students can complete, and the more steps they take, the more entries they’ll earn:
- Start Your Career List: Students explore careers that match their interests.
- Build Your College List: Students find two- or four-year colleges that interest them.
- Start Your Scholarship List: Students find other scholarships to help them pay for college.
- Strengthen Your College List: Students ensure their college list mixes reach, match, and safety schools.
- Complete the FAFSA: Students fill out the free government form to apply for financial aid.
- Apply to Colleges: Students apply to the schools they want to attend.
College Board has dedicated $25 million to the program and has awarded over $18 million to more than 20,000 students. Students in 2024, 2025, and 2026 classes can get started at bigfuture.org.