May 5, 2026
Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy Senior Alexa Cruz is one of only a few hundred students in the nation to be chosen for The Gates Scholarship in 2026. Covering the recipient’s entire cost of college attendance after financial aid, the award is given only to seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic success, leadership skills, and personal maturity during their time in school. The program receives over 100,000 applications per year, and fewer than 400 are chosen.
Ruiz will attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the fall and plans to study nursing. She says that winning the scholarship is a life-changing moment for her, and she’s grateful that the staff at WSPA were supportive of her throughout the application process. Her teachers and counselors have always made her feel like she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to.
“It makes a big difference because they’re your support system, they’re your village,” Ruiz said. “My teachers are like my family.”
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