New Orleans, LA – St. Augustine High School senior Adonis Billizon-Johnson was recently named a Gates Millennium Scholar, earning a full-tuition scholarship to cover undergraduate and graduate studies.
Billizon-Johnson is the second St. Augustine student, in fewer than three years, to receive the prestigious and competitive award funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He will join 1,000 students from across the nation as a Gates Millennium Scholar.
“Adonis is a very focused young man and full of potential,” Sean J. Goodwin, St. Augustine High School Principal said. “He exceeds expectations and his resume shows his willingness to excel beyond the classroom from his high academic standards, his work ethic, to his effort on the speech and debate team as a leader among his teammates. Adonis exemplifies what it means to be a St. Augustine Purple Knight through his academics and his dedication to community service.”
Billizon-Johnson plans to dual major in International Relations and Mass Communications. The St. Augustine senior is a member of the student council, Future Business Leaders of America, the National Honor Society, the speech and debate team, journalism club, political science club, power-lifting team, international club, the Torch & Laurel Society and the Junior Knights of St. Peter Claver Branch 123 Grand Knight, state parliamentarian and national assistant secretary.
In addition to the Gates scholarship, Billizon-Johnson’s scholarship awards include the Loyola University Magis Scholarship, Johnson & Wales, Future Business Leaders of America Scholarship, Presidential Academic Scholarship, Saint Martin’s University President’s Scholarship, Lake Forest College Presidential Scholarship, the Burger King Scholarship, Dominican University of California Presidential Scholarship, and Lawrence University Trustee Scholarship.
Gates Millennium scholarships are awarded to students that demonstrate academic excellence and strong leadership skills. Scholarships assist students in meeting the cost of attendance at the school of their choice. Gates scholars that choose to pursue graduate studies in the areas of education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and science are eligible to receive continued funding.
