Phoenix teen wins $100K scholarship from Beyonce, Jay-Z at concert

PHOENIX — A Phoenix high school student got the surprise of her young life Wednesday night, when she was awarded a $100,000 scholarship at the Beyonce and Jay-Z concert in Glendale.

Mikayla Lowry, a senior at Trevor Browne High, heard her name read by DJ Khaled from the stage at State Farm Stadium before the show began and was stunned.

“This is crazy!” Lowry said near the end of the video, recorded by the Shawn Carter Foundation and BeyGOOD Initiative.

As Khaled read the qualities and achievements of the winner, Lowry and friends from the Boys and Girls Club were smiling and taking video with their phones.

Khaled said the winner was “an extraordinary individual making a difference in this world.”

Senior at Trevor Browne HS, Mikayla Lowry heard her name read by DJ Khaled last night from the stage at the @Beyonce & Jay-Z concert. She was given a $100,000 college scholarship & got to meet all the stars after the show. She’s been apart of the Boys & Girls club for 11 years. pic.twitter.com/OORD3Dqy7v

— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) September 20, 2018

As his descriptions became more pointed — “a future marine biologist” — Lowry’s friends began suggesting it was her.

Lowry has a 3.7 grade-point average.

“Thank you so much,” she said.

To qualify for the scholarship, students had to “demonstrate academic excellence and show financial needs that would make it hard for them to enter a college or university for the academic year 2018-2019,” according to a press release for Beyonce and Jay-Z.

They also have to belong to the Boys and Girls Club.

The students never know they have been nominated until the announcement during an On the Run Tour II stop. Winners have been named in seven of the 11 cities chosen.

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