Penns Grove junior wins $40,000 Big Future scholarship from College Board, her future involves helping her community
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – Serenity Woodards thought she was just going to a school-wide assembly to hear about an academic program she already had completed when she walked into the Penns Grove High School auditorium Wednesday morning. And then they made her sit through it by herself.
So, you can imagine her surprise when the moderator called her up to the stage from the back of the room. Now, multiply that surprise by a thousand when, in front of the entire student body, they handed her a big check to use at whatever college she chooses to attend after graduating in 2025.
Woodards was the recipient of the Big Future Scholarship, a $40,000 grant awarded by the College Board to help students find their way on the path towards a successful life.
It was tightly guarded secret all the way up to the moment of truth.
“I knew we had an hour assembly today,” Serenity said. “I was sitting with my friends in School Base at the Youth Center and then my teacher made me sit by myself and I’m like I have to sit by myself for an hour. I was very upset, and then they kept calling my name and I’m thinking I’m going to go home, my mom’s here.
“And then they’re like, ‘You won 40 thousand dollars.’ I’m like, ‘I won 40 thousand dollars?’ It was very exciting and a very humbling experience. I never thought I would actually win. I was just signing up. It was a possibility, but I never thought I would actually be lucky enough and grateful to win $40,000 to go to college.”
Woodards is the first Penns Grove student to receive the award and just the second from New Jersey in the last two years to receive the big prize. College Board regularly awards $500 scholarships and randomly selects two students nationwide each month to receive the big prize from those who have fulfilled the six-step Big Future requirements.
“Serenity has made history with this,” Penns Grove principal Lory O’Brien said.
Woodards is a junior with a varsity of interests. Outside of the classroom she cheers, participates in the Marching Band’s Color Guard and serves as a manager on the girls basketball team.
Academically, she’s a high achiever interested in pursuing psychology and social work in college and has several schools in mind. She is particularly interested in attending an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) and has schools like Spellman, North Carolina A&T and Delaware State on her list, as well as Rowan and the University of Pennsylvania. Her mother, Keysha Adams, went to an HBCU, Grambling.
“I love everything that an HBCU stands for as a safe space for black and brown people and how it was built up,” Serenity said. “I’ve also always grown up in a space where I see people who look like me, so I think that’ll be like my home away from home.
“I’ve always been interested in psychology and I like being able to explain to people why they think the way they do or why they act the way they do. And to be able to help people with their mental health especially coming from the community I do you see lots of people go with a mental illness untreated and I want to be able to help that.”
Woodards was surrounded by her family at the time of the presentation. Mother Keysha, father Al, brother Al and godmother Justine Hughes all attended the assembly, hidden behind a curtain on the stage until the time came for the big reveal.
They all were just as excited as their daughter.
“I’m speechless,” Adams said before summoning the words to express her pride. “I always knew Serenity would do great things. To know this young lady for 16 years, she can do whatever she wants. She’s amazing. She came out with personality. She’s been writing her own ticket her whole life.”
“I’m just proud of my princess,” papa Al said.
The program and scholarship was presented by Dianna Frank, the College Board’s Senior Director of State and District Partnerships. She explained the program and the process to the assembled students and encouraged them to get involved; many already are, by a show of hands.
“I’m just really excited she’s taking the steps earlier in high school than waiting until senior year; really important that she started early,” Frank said of Woodards. “I think the exciting part was she had already done all of these important steps and we were able to reward it and show her classmates that it does mean something to her and could mean something to them.”
Woodards is certainly a believer.
“It really is only a few clicks and it could change your entire path for the rest of your life,” she said. “I now have less to worry about how I’m going to college or how I’m going to pay for it. You never know when it can be you, so you should just believe in yourself and try.”
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