10 DC students surprised with full scholarships to George Washington University

WASHINGTON - Ten D.C. high school students received the surprise of their lives Wednesday when they learned they're attending George Washington University on a full scholarship!

For more than 25 years, GW has offered a full-ride scholarship to 10 D.C. high school students, and its tradition to surprise them each year with the news. Throughout the day, GW President Thomas LeBlanc, George the mascot and members of the admissions team will visit high schools around the District to deliver the good news.

One of those deserving students, Clau Diah Buenconsejo, attends Roosevelt High School in northwest D.C. FOX 5 was lucky enough to be there when she got the news, as was DCPS Interim Chancellor Amanda Alexander and Clau Diah's mother. Buenconsejo thought she was attending a presentation on the importance of getting a college education-- but instead, they were introduced to the GW team, who revealed the big surprise.

"I just can't believe it," she told FOX 5's Annie Yu, who was there for the surprise. "I'm like yelling inside, but I'm super excited!"

Clau Diah is also super busy. At Roosevelt, she's in the marching band, the jazz band, she's captain of the Dream Team-- and her GPA is through the roof. Outside of school, she works part-time with children.

Our first question: How does she do it all?

"I think I just love doing it," Clau Diah explained. "If you love doing something, you're really going to make time for it."

Clau Diah, who moved to D.C. from the Philippines with her mother, said the chance to go to GW is actually a real dream come true-- one she has every day on the way to work. She told Yu she passes GW when she's on Metro, and she can see classes taking place in the buildings. She has always dreamed of being in those classes one day-- and now, she will be.

She plans to major in psychology, and hopes to become a clinical psychologist some day.

The other nine lucky students who were surprised with a full scholarship were:

Aniyah Fields, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School
Elizabeth Lozano, Calvin Coolidge Senior High School
Lester Maupoy, Woodrow Wilson High School
Cristy Mendoza, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Chidera Obiwuma, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Pedro Ramirez, Columbia Heights Education Campus
Cassell Robinson, McKinley Technology High School
Anthony Thomas. School Without Walls
Alejanda Valdez-Rivas, Francis L. Cardozo Education Campus