Latest news with #Millionaire'sClub


New York Post
06-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Gee, whizzes! Nine brainiacs from NYC high school reap total of nearly $11M in college scholarship money
They're the brainiacs of The Bronx. Nine newly minted graduates of Cardinal Spellman Catholic high school are now in the 'Millionaire's Club'' — raking in a whopping total nearly $11 million in scholarship money. The teen geniuses were each awarded more than $1 million in merit-based grants — much of it from a plethora of prestigious schools, including Ivy Leagues — for a staggering total of $10,799,476. 3 Cardinal Spellman high-school students (clockwise from top left) Shakira Simo, Robert Hernandez, Gabrielle Henriques, Nina Gonzales, Akua Amponsah, Rehema Ojwang and Kaylynn Little beam after reaping a total of nearly $11 million in college scholarship money this year. Stephen Yang 'Somebody actually called and argued with me that that was impossible,' said Dierdre Gibbons, the director of admissions at Spellman. Rehema Ojwang, one of the amazing nine, said, 'It kind of shows people that are just coming up and are about to find a college and are looking into their futures that this is really doable. 'I'm not a genius, and I was born and raised in The Bronx,' said the super student, who plans to study politics at Princeton University in the fall. 'I'm a first-generation American, my parents are immigrants. 'What you have to do is just stay passionate in the things that you do — you don't have to start a business, and you don't have to start a nonprofit, you don't have to go to these heights. I think you just have to make sure that you are putting effort into the things that you like doing.' Another 'Millionaire's Club' member, Shakira Simo, said she is looking forward to studying public policy at Brown University. 'I think it's really inspiring to accomplish something so big,' she said. 'It's not something I really would have imagined when I was a freshman, sophomore or even junior. I think just having grit and determination, persistence really gets you to that point.' 3 The brainiacs applied to an average of 16 schools each. Stephen Yang Joining Simo and Ojwang in the 'Millionaire's Club' are Alyssa Rill, Gabrielle Henriques, Rehema Ojwang, Robert Hernadez, Akua Amponsah, Nina Gonzalez, Saniya Smith and Kaylyn Little. All of the stellar students filed countless school and scholarship applications in the past few months in addition to wrapping up their senior year and making time to enjoy their final moments as classmates. In addition to scoring plenty of university scholarships, the students won a significant portion of the money from outside groups, too. They spent countless hours writing essays for each individual scholarship, many of which offered amounts as relatively low as $1,000. The kids aren't just book-smart, either. Henriques, for example, sewed her own prom dress, while Hernandez was a major player in the school's theater program. 3 The group is not only academically stellar but stand out in other ways, too. Stephen Yang The kids cast a wide net to reach their incredible eight-figure total, applying to an average of 16 different universities. Hernandez topped his friends, applying to 20 different schools. 'I want to be the greatest actor ever. Anything with the musical theater program, I'm jumping on,' he explained. Some of the impressive schools the students are attending next year include Princeton University and Marist College, as well as SUNY Stonybrook and Lehman College. The teens said the college application process pushed them out of their comfort zones and involved some of them calling universities and asking for additional money on top of their scholarships. Spellman has proudly flaunted its record-breaking total on its social-media channels.


Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Man said playing scratch-offs was ‘just a fun thing to do' – then he won big
A New York man won a huge prize after playing the lottery in Maryland. The man was visiting a friend in Prince George's County when he bought a $20 Millionaire's Club ticket, according to a June 12 news release from the Maryland Lottery. The man, who regularly plays the lottery regardless of the state he's in, said playing scratch-off tickets is 'just a fun thing to do,' the lottery said. On this ticket, he won the top prize of $1 million. He told lottery officials he was happy when he learned of the prize and that it beat his previous top win, which was less than $500. He said he plans to invest the money. The $20 Millionaire's Club ticket started with five $1 million prizes, and he won the last one, the lottery said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In Nashville, everybody wants to be a millionaire — until they are
Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree, or click on this link to fill out the form. We welcome diverse viewpoints. I know some Nashvillians who wanted the rich to pay their fair share (whatever that is). They never considered themselves rich until, lo and behold, they woke up one day and found out that the $400,000 home they over-paid for ten years ago is now worth a whopping one million dollars. They have, by luck or design, joined that same exclusive 'Millionaire's Club' they've resented for years. Now, they don't want the rich to pay their fair share… because they hate paying the increased real estate taxes that go along with the sky-rocketing value of their home. However, no matter what, they never stop funding their pet projects, even if the money comes from continuing the deficit spending they have embraced for years. They can't have it both ways. More: With Nashville budget debate looming, some on council may lobby for lower property taxes Do we want a city or state income tax? (Tennessee has neither.) Do we want a state inheritance tax? (Tennessee doesn't have one.) Do we want tolls on all our highways? Do we want the European valued added tax of 20% on everything we buy, or our 9.75% sales tax? More: Trio of Republican groups form coalition to oppose potential tax hike in Nashville Every Tennessean is expected to live within their means. Yet some won't apply that same principle to our own town. And they don't want to pay the higher taxes on their highly appraised properties. Hypocrisy is alive and well and living in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Steve Morris DDS (ret), Nashville 37205 Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@ Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet Nashville's new millionaire's club: Your neighbors | Letters