Jaylee, the 2024 Cleveland Metropolitan Remote High School valedictorian, will be the first to admit her high school experience did not go as planned, but it ended on a high note. She was awarded The Gates Scholarship, a highly competitive scholarship sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Jaylee started high school attending Bard High School Early College Cleveland.   But just as she was set to return to the classroom after a year of remote learning due to the pandemic, she caught COVID-19.

Jaylee says her mother transferred her to Cleveland Metropolitan Remote High School to keep her safe.

"It wasn't how I imagined my high school experience would go, especially with the challenges of remote learning due to the pandemic," she explained.

Despite missing out on some traditional high school experiences, Jaylee says the structure of remote schools helped her develop her personality and strengthen her time management skills.

Determined to attend college, those time management skills paid off when she filled out hundreds of scholarship applications, including one for The Gates Foundation.

"I had already told myself that loans were not an option," she emphasized. "So, if scholarships didn't come through, college wouldn't be possible for me."

Jaylee says she received seven scholarship offers but the news of earning The Gates Scholarship overwhelmed her with emotions.

"It was disbelief at first," she admitted. "After facing rejections, it felt surreal to receive such a life-changing opportunity."

The scholarship will cover Jaylee’s tuition, room and board, and personal expenses. It will remove her financial burden and allow her to pursue her dreams of higher education without the burden of debt.

"To know that I can pursue my education without financial worries is truly a blessing,” said Jaylee.

Jaylee plans to attend Ohio State University in Columbus and major in visual design with a minor in business management.

She admits she is nervous and excited about transitioning from remote to in-person learning, but said she is determined to make the most of her college experience.