NY Times Scholars Are Inspiring

Here's your heartwarming tale for today: The NY Times' article about its twelve NY Times Scholars for 2008. One, a 20-year-old who immigrated from China with her parents in 2007 (but her parents returned, because it was too tough), makes $560/month and pays $550 in rent, leaving $10/month, "which she spends carefully on large bags of rice, chicken leg quarters at 49 cents a pound, and whatever vegetables are cheapest." Thanks to "two free meals a day at school, a student MetroCard and the unexpected kind act— her English teacher, for instance, gave her $100," she manages—and has a 93 average at her high school. Another was inspired by his mother, who never completed middle school and has two cleaning jobs; he's first in his class and was accepted to U.Penn. The scholars "will receive $30,000 in aid for college, a laptop computer and a summer job at The Times, as well as access to a network of counselors and alumni who can provide advice and support in the years ahead." More information about the NY Times College Scholarship program here.