Westover High School junior Nimaya Williams is celebrating a life-changing achievement after being selected by College Board's BigFuture as one of only two students nationwide to receive its monthly $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship.

Overcome with emotion after the surprise announcement, Williams said, "I'm about to cry. This is life-changing, but I feel I was destined to do great things."

Williams earned the scholarship by completing key college and career planning steps through BigFuture, College Board's free online platform that helps students explore careers, prepare for college and identify ways to pay for their education. 

"I'm excited and a little caught off guard, but for her, this will definitely be a start for her future," said Shantay Dupree, Williams' mother, in a press release. "She [Williams] has so many things that she's great at, and this step will be huge for her. This will help 'Mom' out with college, too, so she doesn't have to go to a tech [technical school] or anything because money is tight. Now, she has more opportunities. Thank you!"

BigFuture Scholarships awards both $500 and $40,000 scholarships to eligible students attending two- or four-year colleges. No essay, test score, GPA or family income requirement is needed to qualify, making the program accessible to students from all backgrounds.

"Moments like this remind us that there are no limits to what our [Westover] Wolverines can accomplish," said Dr.Tremaine Canteen, principal at Westover High, in a press release. "We look forward to celebrating this milestone and the bright future that lies ahead for Nimaya. And, thank you, BigFuture!"

Since 2019, BigFuture has awarded more than $25 million in scholarships to more than 30,000 students, to date, taking proactive steps toward their future.