OKC Southeast High School Student Earns Prestigious Scholarship

A Southeast High School senior was awarded a prestigious scholarship for her outstanding academics.

Alondra Martinez became one of just 1,000 students across the United States to win the Gate's Millennium Scholarship. Martinez is not like most high school seniors. She spends her free time in the library studying, a habit that started when she immigrated to the United States in the third grade.

"It's hard learning a new language and learning a new way of life and education, but my parents have always been supportive, especially in academics," said Martinez.

But all that extra work paid off when she was accepted into her dream school, The University of Oklahoma. She got the good news, but immediately worried how she would pay for the books, tuition, fees and housing. This scholarship changes that.

Suzie Miller watched Martinez grow up in school over the last four years. She knows how important the scholarship is for Martinez and her future. Miller wrote one of the recommendation letters for Martinez because she wants to see how far this young woman can go.

"She has her mind set on her future so I think that's something that I've always seen in her since she was a little 9th grader," said Miller.

The full-ride mean Martinez can focus on becoming a doctor so she can give back, because so much was given to her through this scholarship

The Millennium scholarship is given out to outstanding minority students with significant financial need. They provide seamless assistance from undergrad through doctoral programs.