For sophomore Ayla Allen, hard work in high school has paid off. 

Last month, the Warren Christopher Scholarship Fund selected Allen as a recipient of a college scholarship worth $20,000.

“More than receiving the money, I feel honored to receive the award because I feel all the work I’ve done, staying up until 5 in the morning finishing a project, has paid off,” Allen said. “What I like about this honor is recognizing me as a person more than just a student. This takes into account more aspects of your life than your grades.”

The Warren Christopher Fund is an organization that provides scholarships to students in their sophomore year of high school. 

Each year, only eight to 10 students with high academic achievements from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) are selected to receive the prestigious scholarship.

At DPMHS, counselor Martina Torres may only nominate one sophomore yearly. 

“Ms. Torres nominated me and I had to fill out the application, write an essay, list my volunteer hours and extra-curricular activities,” Allen said.

Allen was nominated in late February and the application was sent out March 16. After the month long process, the news came in that she’d been awarded the scholarship. 

“They called me on the phone the morning of Friday April 20, but I was in school. Ms. Keo got a camera sent to her room to take photos of me. Later on, Mrs. Kiddoo came on the PA and announced that I had won the scholarship,” Allen added.

The scholarship pays $5,000 a year for four years of college. It covers housing, books or tuition. 

The scholarship can be used for many fields of study. In fact, it may be used for any career choice.

But, for Allen, it still may not be time to discuss what to pursue.

“I am not certain yet, but I want to focus on applied mathematics and dance for sure,” Allen said. “Of these two, I am not too sure, but I want to reach having a Ph.D.”

Torres saw the potential in Allen and sought to choose her as the adequate nominee for the scholarship due to various reasons, one being her score on the PSAT, which ranged in the 200s. 

“Ms. Zimring had brought to my attention that she was the 10th grader with the highest PSAT score at Daniel Pearl,” Torres said. “We looked at the fact that she’s a student who goes above the required amount of work.”

On June 1, Allen will be honored in an awards ceremony at Disney Concert Hall.

Allen also won a $250 essay scholarship from the Rotary Club.