Gates Scholar

Jaylen Body is no stranger to scholarship applications. The Warren, Michigan, native who attended Chandler Park Academy became a finalist in both the Impact Scholarship and Leading Scholar events on campus last year. The two competitive awards served as a warmup for Body, who would later learn about the Gates Scholarship from his college counselor. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Scholarship is intended for minority and low-income collegebound students. Body was one of 300 to earn a full-ride award out of an applicant pool of nearly 35,000. The three-phase scholarship process began back in summer 2020, culminating in a five-day virtual conference in spring 2021. “The Gates Scholarship is a foundation for my future,” says Body. “Putting ‘Gates Scholar’ on my resume makes me stand out as a driven and determined person, and that makes me feel incredibly proud.” Body began his college search early. By the 10th grade he was sold on Tech’s business program and already connected to many faculty and staff on campus. “I knew I wanted to go to a college with an atmosphere that was not only academically innovative but also made me feel comfortable for being different,” he says. Browsing YouTube, Body found “Jack’s Vlogs.” The quick-hitting, student-produced videos gave him a preview of Tech’s atmosphere. “Those videos really made me fall in love with campus,” he adds. For Body, who is pursuing a dual major in accounting and management, his goals on campus go beyond simply earning a degree. “I truly hope to make as many contributions as I can to help foster the growth of Michigan Tech. It’s my second home and I want it to be the best it can possibly be.”

Make Your Scholarship Search Add Up 

Body’s advice to future students looking to help finance their Michigan Tech education:
1) Start early. “Rushing or doing things last-minute leads to stress.”
2) Make connections. “Don’t be afraid to email or call faculty and staff—even for little questions; they truly want to help and get to know you.”
3) Keep an open mind to all options and opportunities. “There’s more out there for you than you may think at first.”