TRIO ETS Student Recognized with $40,000 Scholarship
May 6, 2025
Fifteen-year-old Melody Watson, a sophomore at Hawthorne Middle/High School, was recently awarded a $40,000 scholarship from the College Board’s BigFuture program—one of only two students in the nation to receive the honor this month. The scholarship recognizes high school students who take meaningful steps toward planning for college and careers.
Watson, who participates in Santa Fe College’s TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program, credited the program for helping her win the award.
“I won’t have to stress about where the money’s coming from and how I’m going to pay back any loans,” she said. “I can just attend college and pursue my dream career without those worries.”
TRIO ETS supports first-generation college students with resources, mentoring and academic guidance. Through the program, Watson completed a career assessment and created a career list—two of the tasks that earned her entries into the College Board’s scholarship raffle.
Lindsey Ragsdale, the ETS Coordinator at Santa Fe College and Melody’s coach for the past several years, shared her excitement about the win. “We are so proud of Melody, an ETS student at Hawthorne Middle/High School. She is the oldest of seven and setting a strong example for her siblings and classmates. She is only a sophomore but is already taking dual enrollment classes at SF and has a 4.0 GPA. She is truly a remarkable young woman, and we are so proud of her!”
The scholarship announcement came as a surprise during a school-wide assembly. Watson, who plans to become a nurse, will continue taking college-level courses through Santa Fe College while completing her high school education.
