May 16, 2025 – The look on the students’ faces tells the story – shock, then a smile, sometimes a few tears. That’s what happens when Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio delivers oversized scholarship checks to seniors each year. This year, Pollio delivered more than $75,000 in JCPS Community Scholarships to five seniors, three of whom are from immigrant families and all of whom will be first-generation college students.
As part of the selection process, finalists for the scholarships wrote personal statements, prepared presentations outlining their plans and financial needs, and took part in interviews with Pollio and other JCPS administrators.
“Hearing these students’ stories and what they have already accomplished in their young lives is beyond remarkable,” Pollio said. “This scholarship money will ease the burden on their families who might not be able to pay for college without significant financial help. These students are wonderful ambassadors for their families, schools, JCPS, and the city of Louisville. We couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Here is the list of winners and the amounts of their scholarships:
Mamata “Ayusha” Sapkota, Central High School, $15,410
Ayusha immigrated to the United States from Nepal when she was 10. Although she initially struggled with the adjustment to the American school system, she quickly became a straight-A student. Ayusha speaks four languages and has shone as a leader at Central High School, where she is a member of the Ladies of Leadership and Stanford Neuroscience clubs. Ayusha also participates in the Pre-Med pathway at Central and served as a student researcher at the University of Louisville. She was honored as a Churchill Downs Governor's Scholar and a QuestBridge Finalist. Ayusha mentors younger students in her community, founded a Montessori school in Nepal, and founded a non-profit that provides medical supplies and disease prevention education to developing countries. Ayusha will attend Denison University in the Fall and plans to enter the medical field one day.
Cordaisha Milan, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, $12,896
Cordaisha comes from a blended family and has a strong role model in her mother, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. At PRP, Cordaisha is the head editor of the Yearbook Committee, the event coordinator of the Black Student Union, the Secretary of the Student Council, and the New Member Mentor for the Color Guard. She balances these activities while working as a Food and Beverage Supervisor at Kentucky Kingdom. In middle school, Cordaisha was voted "most likely to come back as a teacher." She plans to make that prediction come true by returning to JCPS as a teacher after graduating from the University of Louisville. Cordaisha has already made progress toward her goal by earning 21 credits toward her degree as a dual credit student.
Ali Alhilfi, Butler High School, $19,312
Ali was born in Louisville to Iraqi parents. At Butler, he has excelled in both academics and sports. Ali is a member of the 22nd District Champion Butler soccer team and the swim and tennis teams. His extracurricular activities include the Technology Student Association, Future Business Leaders of America, Kentucky United Nations, Kentucky Youth Assembly, National Honor Society, and Beta Club. Ali developed a passion for cars through his father and is an aspiring automotive electrical engineer. He was selected for the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs and hopes to use the knowledge gained from that experience and that of his Engineering and IT pathways at Butler to eventually start his own business that designs new and advanced technology. He plans to attend the University of Louisville.
Jessica Amat Garcia, Marion C. Moore High School, $12,790
Jessica is Cuban American and speaks both Spanish and English fluently. She uses her bilingual skills to help translate for her family, friends, and community members. At Moore, Jessica is the Senior Class President, Beta Club President, and an Academies of Louisville Ambassador. She has attended Moore since moving to Louisville in the 6th grade and has never received a grade below an A. Jessica is a 2024 alumnus of the Governor's Scholars Program, where she focused on Mass Media and Journalism. She credits her Business Teacher at Moore for inspiring her future plans. Jessica will attend Bellarmine University in the Fall, majoring in marketing and business administration.
Sebastian Myers, Waggener High School, $15,852
Sebastian was raised by their grandmother and underwent severe hardships as a child, including struggling to find housing. Since the age of 16, Sebastian has been their family's primary source of support, currently working a full-time job at White Castle while attending high school. An accomplished artist, Sebastian has displayed their work at Waggener, Mammoth Cave National Park, and the Speed Art Museum. Sebastian was selected for the 2024 Governor's School for the Arts in the Visual Arts discipline and will also receive the Seal of Arts Excellence on their diploma. Sebastian has been accepted into the Honors College at Northern Kentucky University and plans to major in Integrative Studies, focusing on Psychology, Gender Studies, and Social Work.
The JCPS Community Scholarships are funded by donations from JCPS employees and community members.