A Madras High School senior is one of 21 Oregonians to receive the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, which provides recipients with a free ride to college and access to programs aimed at promoting academic success.

Itzel Romero, 17, will use her award to attend Linfield College in McMinnville. The scholarships are administered by the United Negro College Fund with support from a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Each year 1,000 minority students are named as scholars by the UNCF. Romero plans to enroll in a predentistry program with the goal of someday returning to Madras as an orthodontist. Romero said her plans stem from her experience receiving treatment through SMILE Central Oregon, which helps provide braces to those unable to afford them.

“I really admire that program and want to come back to be a part of it if it’s still around,” Romero said.

Without the award, Romero is not sure if she would be able to attend Linfield.

“They offered a lot of scholarships, but there were still some things I would have needed to meet,” she said. “I think I probably wouldn’t have ended up there. But the scholarship isn’t just about the money. They offer guidance and help with the transition into college.”

Romero said she’s most excited about “being able to focus just on school without having to worry about financial aid.”

Madras High School Principal Sarah Braman-Smith praised Romero’s academic skills and involvement in the Madras High community, where she plays varsity soccer and tennis, and is the student body co-vice president as well as yearbook editor.

“The number one thing that stands out to me, on top of the work she does and everything academic, is that from her freshman year forward she has been an advocate for all learners, not just her friends,” Braman-Smith said. “If she feels something needs changed, her voice comes forward.”

Braman-Smith cited Romero’s work reinstating a spring spirit week, which Braman-Smith said will benefit all students. Romero’s leadership factored into her scholarship application, as she wrote about a controversy that arose from the election that earned her a spot as co-vice president.

“One of the essays was to describe a situation in which we felt we were treated unfairly,” Romero said. “Last year during elections there were inconsistencies and we heard they cost me and my partner the race, so we came together with the activities director and we decided to have two co-presidents and two co-vice presidents.”

— Reporter: 541-633-2160, tleeds@bendbulletin.com