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Learning to communicate with her peers was her daily focus, not high-minded dreams of attending college. Early on, "GW" weren't even letters in her alphabet, let alone a university within her reach.
So when University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg showed up at her school Friday morning with a $200,000 scholarship to attend the Elliott School of International Affairs, she was flabbergasted.
"Shocked, surprised, happy," Tran said of her initial reactions. "I had no idea."
Tran is one of nine seniors in D.C. public high schools who won this year's Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarships. Each scholarship, worth more than $45,000 per year, covers tuition, room and board, books and other fees.
On Friday, University officials traveled in the "prize patrol van" to the recipients' five high schools, surprising them with the news in large assemblies. Mascot Little George and Chris Harvell, a former SJT Scholar currently attending Columbia University business school, were also on hand.
Tran's Benjamin Banneker High School, across the street from Howard University, had two other award recipients, Francesca Fisher and Christopher Stallworth. Trachtenberg congratulated all three students on receiving his award.
"This is no small issue: $600,000," he said of the three scholarships' total value. "We're delighted to do it ... It takes from you and your parents the burden of academic costs."
Trachtenberg said he viewed the scholarships as a way of giving back to the community, while simultaneously recruiting bright students.
"Our goal of the program is to build a leadership group of people born and bred in D.C. to come to D.C.'s best university," Trachtenberg said. "We need your talent, your brains and your good looks."
