ORLANDO, FL— Over 1,700 KIPP educators, staff, and students from 19 states attended the awards ceremony at the annual KIPP School Summit to honor the students' excellence in teaching and learning.

The $10,000 scholarship is named after Mrs. Fisher, Co-Founder of Gap Inc., to recognize her longtime support of KIPP. The award honors students’ accomplishments in overcoming challenges to excel in three areas: academics, leadership, and character. The winners were selected by a committee that includes Mrs. Fisher, KIPP’s co-founders, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, and national KIPP staff members. The award money will be used towards the students’ college expenses.

Crystal was nominated for the KIPPster of the Year Award for her sheer academic excellence, sharp focus, maturity, and leadership inside and outside the classroom. She maintains a 4.0 GPA, placing her on the High Honor Roll four years in a row, and won second place at the school’s Science Fair and first place in the school’s Spelling Bee. When a teacher stepped down from leading the newspaper, she stepped in as Editor-in-Chief, rallying her journalism class to keep the paper running. She is also a talented actress and dancer, shining in theatrical and dance productions, and her compassion and active listening help her to resolve class conflicts as a Peer Mediator.

Mario was nominated for the KIPPster of the Year Award for his remarkable academic progress and humility, thoughtfulness, and developing leadership. When he came to KIPP in sixth grade, he was struggling, especially as an English language learner. During three short years at KIPP, he has worked diligently, raising his math scores from the 50th to the 94th percentile and his reading scores from the 22nd to the 75th percentile. He acts as a translator for his parents and sets an example for his siblings, watching over them as they commute on the train to and from school every day. Also a skilled athlete and well-respected by his peers, he’s served as captain of every athletic team at his school and coaches the fifth and sixth grade teams. He was recognized as “Youth of the Month” by the Boys and Girls Club for his dedication and leadership.

“I am delighted to recognize Crystal. Mario and the other KIPP students who have worked so hard up win this special award,” Doris Fisher said. “I look forward to seeing how these motivated and talented youth go on to fulfill their academic and personal potential at KIPP schools and beyond.”