Nimaya Williams earns $40,000 BigFuture scholarship as one of only two students nationwide

Nimaya Williams, the North Carolina junior (Image Credit: Cumberland County Schools) For many high-school students, preparing for life after graduation can feel overwhelming. College applications, career choices, financial planning, and scholarship searches can all seem like separate challenges, especially for students who are still figuring out what they want their future to look like. For Nimaya Williams, a junior at Westover High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, taking practical steps toward that future recently brought an unexpected reward: a $40,000 scholarship that could help change the course of her college journey. Williams was selected by College Board's BigFuture as one of only two students nationwide to receive the monthly $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship, according to a July 2026 news release from Cumberland County Schools. She earned the award by completing college and career planning activities through BigFuture, College Board's free online platform.A surprise worth $40,000Williams did not expect her college-planning efforts to result in such a major award. When she received the surprise announcement, the Westover High School junior was overcome with emotion. “I’m...