Ness, Maestas chosen as Gates Millennium Scholars
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PABLO — The Gate Millennium Scholars Program has announced its 2010 cohort of scholars. Five Montana students were selected for the good-through-graduation college scholarship, and two of those students attend Two Eagle River School.
Tiana Ness and James Maestas III are two of the 1,000 scholars chosen from among 5,000 applicants nationwide. The prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship pays for tuition, books and fees, housing and other expenses at the college of the student’s choice. Kids must take at least 12 credits per quarter or semester. The scholarship will also pay for graduate school if the student meets the grade requirements.
TERS Counselor Judi Gibbs said the application process was “lengthy and exhausting.” Maestas and Ness each had to write eight essays. Gibbs, Ness and Maestas started talking about applying for the Gates Millennium in about October.
There was one hang-up in the process, though. Since TERS is an alternative school, they do not give grades. The Gate Millennium people questioned TERS on how they determined grade point averages.
“That was a sticker,” Gibbs said.
The scholarship committee must have been okay with alternative schools although, Maestas, one of the TERS Eagles basketball team’s best players, said he really didn’t think he had a chance until he received notice he was a finalist.
Both Ness and Maestas think they will attend Salish Kootenai College for their first year just to get used to college life and get their basics out of the way.
Ness’ favorite subject is Salish. She would like to major in elementary education or maybe teach high school kids so she can pass the Salish language on to younger kids.
“I want to be a lifer at Two Eagle,” she said, laughing.
Maestas like working with kids, also. He spends a lot of time with a disabled student at TERS. Maestas also likes helping kids develop as basketball players and wants to coach basketball. Maestas might major in elementary education or take heavy equipment classed.
Both Ness and Maestas are excited about graduation, which will be held in the TERS gymnasium at 4 p.m. on May 23.
