College Achieve Central Scholar Selected for Prestigious Gates Scholarship

Acceptance rate below 1% nationwide

Plainfield, NJ ― College Achieve Central Charter School senior Sariah Fauntleroy has been named a 2026 Gates Scholar, earning one of the nation’s most competitive scholarships for high-achieving, low-income students. The award covers the full cost of her undergraduate education including tuition, books, and housing. This is the third student in College Achieve’s five graduating classes to receive the award.

Though CAPS Central has only five graduating classes to date, it has consistently sent seniors on to post‑secondary institutions, with the majority enrolling in four-year universities. Graduates have earned admission to institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Princeton, Brown, The University of Pennsylvania, and Dartmouth – as well as highly‑regarded public universities nationwide.

As a network committed to expanding college access, this recognition is a powerful affirmation of a college-going culture and academic model, which requires all high school scholars to complete a minimum of three Advanced Placement (AP) courses to graduate, and with college readiness initiatives beginning as early as elementary school.

The Gates Scholarship has an acceptance rate below 1%. with nearly 61,000 applicants nationwide competing for 300 awards. Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership, and demonstrated financial need.

“Sariah is a quiet but powerful leader whose perseverance, integrity and commitment to service truly set her apart,” said Natica Brown, Head of School, CAPS Central. “Her selection as a Gates Scholar reflects years of hard work and places her among the top students in the country.”

In addition to this honor, Fauntleroy was also recognized as a 2026 Union County Unsung Hero by the Union County School Board Association. She plans to attend Howard University in the fall.

Funded by the Gates Foundation, The Gates Scholarship is a last‑dollar award that covers the full cost of attendance not met by other aid, including tuition, housing and books and provides ongoing mentoring and leadership development throughout a scholar’s undergraduate career. Combined with a $36,000 financial award from Howard, the Gates Scholarship makes Fauntleroy’s college dream possible.