The Newark Board of Education is extremely proud to announce that Ms. Crystal Caldwell of Arts High School has been selected as a Gates Scholar and member of The Gates Scholarship Class of 2022.  The Gates Scholarship represents the very pinnacle of academic achievement, service, and commitment.

This year, 37,000 applicants from across the nation, participated in a rigorous application process, vying to become one of 300 scholarship recipients. The prestigious scholarship pays for all undergraduate expenses and offers access to a network of fellow scholars and other distinguished individuals and leaders.

Although Newark Public Schools have been impacted by disruptions and unexpected challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Educators, administrators, and staff remained diligent in their work to keep students driven, focused, and on track. Superintendent Roger León said, “We have worked really hard to continue educating our students at the highest level through COVID-19 and virtual learning. Crystal, receiving this scholarship is an example of our hard work paying off”.

Board President Dawn Haynes said, “Crystal worked hard, especially during her time in high school and her efforts deserve an award of this magnitude”.

Crystal is a Visual Arts major at Arts High School and she will be attending Lehigh University in the fall where she will be majoring in Engineering and minoring in Fine Arts - she offers some advice for future Gates Scholarship applicants, “All I did was listen to my teachers, do my homework, and participate in lots of extra-curricular activities. If I can do it, so can you”.

Crystal’s sister, Ms. Ashley Drake exclaimed, “Words cannot describe how proud and happy I am for Crystal.  I’ve witnessed how adversity has made her strong. She is an amazing student who is deserving of this amazing opportunity. I know that our father is smiling down on her”.