What if...?

Hi, my name is Fernando Revelo. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia and I moved to Georgia in 2002. Currently, I am a senior at East Paulding High School in Dallas, GA. As of right now, I will be graduating high school with honors as the 2009 class's salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 100.114.

After applying to sixteen colleges and universities around the United States, ten of them welcomed me with open arms: Duke University, University of Notre Dame, Emory University, Swarthmore College, Oberlin College, New York University, University of Georgia, Rice University, Pomona College, and Bowdoin College.

Throughout the month of April, I researched, examined and visited many schools, and after a tough decision I have decided to go to Duke University. The catch is according to my financial aid award, I have to earn 1900 dollars to pay for the student contribution.

I said to myself, well that's easy. It’s not. I did the math. If during the ten weeks of summer that I have, I work 20 hrs a week (the max hours that I have been given) I would earn 1500 dollars, and that’s without removing taxes. I also realized... that the 1900 goes to the school directly, what about all the extra expenses of going to school aside from books, which are included in the financial aid. It hit me. Reality, hit me. As of right now I only have 100 dollars saved up. How am I supposed to acquire this money? Yes, it is A LOT less from paying the total cost of 53,890 a year.

So, with the help of some co-workers, the idea of creating a website asking people for a donation of something as insignificant as a dollar—a dollar that you would spend in a vending machine. What if 2000 people donate a dollar each? What if 2000 people donated to help this East Paulding High School student achieve his dream and go to Duke? What if...?

School Activities and Honors:

Scholastic:

• ACT Composite Score: 31
• SAT Subject Tests: Math IIC: 660. Biology M: 760. Spanish: 800.
• AP US History: 2
• AP Art History: 3
• APBiology: 4
• AP Macroeconomics: 3
• AP Government: 3

Extra Curricular:

• Academic Team 9-12 (Captain)
• Beta Club 11-12 (Member)
• National Honors Society 11-12 (Member)
• Latin Club 10-11 (Member)
• Latin Honors Society 11 (Member)
• Newspaper 9-12 (Editor)
• Engineering Club 12 (Member)
• Yearbook 12 (Staff)

Awards:

• GPA Award 9
• National Latin Examination Latin 1 "Summa Cum Laude" 9
• National Latin Examination Latin 2 "Magna Cum Laude" 10
• Georgia Certificate of Merit 11
• National Latin Examination Latin 3 "Cum Laude" 11
• Collegeboard AP Scholar 12

Community Involvement:

• Breakfast with Santa 11
• Paulding County Easter Egg Hunt 11
• Tutoring Ninth Graders 11
• Beta Club Projects: Thanksgiving cards for elders, cleaning around the school, and Easter egg cards.
• Kohl's A-team and Kohl's Cares For Kids: Walk for Wishes, and Operation Homefront.
• Teacher's aid 12

Work Experience

• Nicky's Pizzeria Oct 2007 - Mar 2008
• Kohl's Cartersville Nov 2008 - Present