Panorama High School student Mia was surprised in front of her classmates with a $40,000 scholarship by taking a few simple steps towards planning for college. The BigFuture Scholarships program, which awarded Mia and one other high school student the grand prize for the month of September, is currently open to all class of 2023 students.

Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho helped present the award to Mia. “We are incredibly proud of Mia and the proactive work she completed to ensure her future is bright with opportunities,” the Superintendent said. “This is an example of what the possibilities are when students take small steps to pursue their dreams.”

BigFuture helps high school students plan for their future through their online dashboard, which simplifies the otherwise daunting college application process with simple steps. Each completed step unlocks the next steps, like building your college list to practicing for the SAT. Every month, BigFuture selects two students to win the $40,000 scholarship, while hundreds more receive $500 awards.

For more information visit bigfuture.collegeboard.org.