Senior Roberto Portillo is proof that one gets what one works for. He was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship April 18, for his hard work and perseverance.

“I was not sure I was gonna get it since there are so many candidates for it, but I had a strong feeling that I could be a possible winner,” Portillo said.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) is a $1.6 billion initiative funded by grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Their goal is to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to complete their studies.

“I started the process in December and ended all the way to the deadline with Ms. Grijalva and Ms. Alvarez. The Go Center also helped me get all the paperwork that I needed,” Portillo said.

Go Center Coordinator Daniel Calderon said that it has been a while since the school had a student get the scholarship.

“It is a very hard scholarship to get not very many students do get it. It was a pleasure knowing he got the scholarship, I’m very happy for him,” Calderon said.

Portillo will be attending Texas A&M University this fall.

“I’m planning to study Petroleum Engineering and major in Business as well,” Portillo said.

GMS select 1,000 scholars funding over 20,000 Gates Scholars since 2000. The scholarship is open to applicants nationwide.

“There are no guarantees on scholarships but the only way to know if you will get one is by applying,” Calderon said.