Jace'Karmon Heard Profile

Cardinal Ritter Prep Senior Receives Prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship

Jace’Karmon Heard of St. Louis city, a senior at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, is one of only 1,000 students in the United States to receive the prestigious 2007 Gates Millennium Scholarship. More than 11,000 students applied. The scholarship pays college tuition for each recipient’s undergraduate through professional degree.

The scholarship will allow Jace’Karmon to achieve her dream to attend University of Missouri-Rolla and major in engineering management. She plans to earn a Ph.D. in engineering.

In addition to her academics, Jace’Karmon also participates in the Intern Leadership Program (ILP), a unique internship program at Cardinal Ritter Prep that provides students with career training, counseling and a paid internship at a leading corporation from their junior year of high school until they graduate from college. Jace’Karmon also is president of Cardinal Ritter Prep’s National Honor Society and is a Student Ambassador.

Cardinal Ritter Prep guidance counselor Bertha Winkler suggested Jace’Karmon apply for the Gates Millennium Scholarship and wrote one of Jace’Karmon’s letters of recommendation.

“Jace’Karmon has so much intelligence, confidence and ambition. I felt she would be a terrific candidate for the scholarship,” Winkler said. “And this scholarship gives her an incredible opportunity to achieve her goals.”

Jace’ Karmon believes Cardinal Ritter Prep prepared her well for the Gates Millennium Scholarship and for college.

“I’ve always loved math,” said Jace’ Karmon. “For a long time, I wanted to be a stockbroker.” But she also developed a love for science that led her to pursue engineering.

“I had to write several essays, and I learned everything I needed from my English teachers. All the college credit courses I’ve taken will help me stay ahead, and I’ve learned so much about organization and study habits.”

Jace’Karmon attended Ames Visual Performing Arts and McKinley Classical Junior Academy before enrolling at Cardinal Ritter Prep.

The Gates Millennium Scholars program was established in 1999 to provide educational opportunities for minority students with financial needs.