A.R. Johnson Magnet School student selected as 2023 Gates Scholar

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School senior Jonathan Ross Jr. has been named a 2023 Gates Scholar.

Ross said, “I feel honored to be a Gates Scholar after all of my hard work and perseverance. As a result, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will pay for my full tuition at Morehouse College. As I am blessed with this opportunity, I will take full advantage of it as I work towards earning a degree in computer science.”

The Gates Scholarship awards high-achieving students of color with a last-dollar scholarship that funds the college attendance cost not covered by federal student aid or family. Only 750 students were selected as Gates Scholars from 51,000 applicants across the United States.

Ross is the salutatorian of his graduating class at A.R. Johnson Magnet School.

In addition to the Gates Scholarship, he earned the College Board National African American Award, the F. Wayne Clough Georgia Tech Promise Program Scholarship, the Black Scholar Recognition Award from Augusta State University, and a scholarship from Morehouse College. He is a member of the Augusta Youth Leadership Program and National Honors Society and is a student-athlete.

Ross said he is thankful for the scholarship because it will help him accomplish his dreams of being a software engineer.

He also told us what advice he would give to other students who also want to be a Gates Scholar.

“It just feels like all my hard work and perseverance in school has paid off” he said. “Believe in yourself like, you know, you got, you know, you can go far in life if you try your best at something. So just keep on trying in school and just keep on being the books,” said Ross.

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