Meet Nimaya Williams, the North Carolina junior who completed free college-planning steps and became one of only two students nationwide to receive a $40,000 BigFuture scholarship

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 $40,000

Williams 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 about to cry. This is life changing,” Williams said in the Cumberland County Schools release, adding that she felt she was “destined to do great things.”The recognition came as Williams worked through the steps offered by BigFuture, a platform designed to help students prepare for life after high school. Rather than requiring students to win an academic competition or submit a traditional scholarship essay, the programme rewards eligible students for taking proactive steps toward college and career planning. For Williams, those actions ultimately led to one of the programme’s largest monthly awards.

Turning planning into opportunity

The BigFuture Scholarship is connected to activities that encourage students to think seriously about their futures. BigFuture helps students explore potential careers, prepare for college, and find ways to finance higher education. Williams’ story highlights that college preparation does not necessarily begin with filling out an application. It can start much earlier, with students exploring career interests, learning about colleges, and thinking about how they will finance their education.That approach can be particularly important for high-school students who may not yet have a detailed plan for what comes after graduation. Taking smaller steps can help make a complicated process more manageable. Williams’ scholarship also demonstrates how planning can sometimes open unexpected doors for students.

A major relief for her family

The $40,000 award could have an impact beyond Williams herself. Her mother, Shantay Dupree, said the scholarship would create more opportunities for her daughter while easing some of the financial pressure surrounding college. Dupree said Williams has many strengths and described the scholarship as an important step toward her future. She also acknowledged that paying for college can be difficult for families when money is tight.For families facing the rising cost of higher education, a scholarship of this size can make a meaningful difference. It can reduce the amount the student and family need to cover through savings, loans, or other financial assistance. The award therefore represents more than a moment of recognition for Williams. It could provide additional flexibility as she prepares for college.

No essay or GPA requirement

One notable aspect of the BigFuture Scholarship programme is that students do not have to meet traditional academic requirements to be eligible. According to Cumberland County Schools, the programme does not require an essay, test score, GPA, or family-income qualification.The programme awards both $500 and $40,000 scholarships to eligible students attending two- or four-year colleges. The programme awards two $40,000 scholarships and hundreds of $500 scholarships each month. Since the programme began in 2019, BigFuture has awarded more than $25 million in scholarships to more than 30,000 students who took proactive steps toward their futures, according to the school district’s announcement. That makes Williams’ achievement part of a broader effort to encourage students to begin preparing for college and careers before graduation.

A step toward her future

Williams’ story shows that preparing for college does not always have to mean accomplishing something extraordinary overnight. Sometimes, it begins with completing one planning activity, exploring a career, or learning more about financing education. Her decision to take those steps through BigFuture ultimately brought an unexpected $40,000 opportunity.For Williams and her family, the scholarship arrives at an important point in her high-school journey. With another year before graduation, she now has additional financial support as she considers what comes next. What started as a practical effort to plan for college has turned into a significant milestone, one that could help Williams move toward the future she already believes she is destined to achieve.