After all the hard work, applications, tests and anticipated admission decisions, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School seniors Elitza Batchiyska and Edgar Ruvalcaba have been offered golden tickets to two of the nation’s best universities.

Since last summer, Batchiyska has been writing essays and attending interviews in an effort to be awarded the Posse Scholarship. The scholarship guarantees the recipient a full ride to the school they are paired with. Batchiyska soared through round after round of the Posse process eventually becaming a finalist in the quest for a full ride to Syracuse University in New York. When the recipients were named, Batchiyska was surprisingly unfazed to discover that she had not been named a Posse Scholar.

Only a week later, on Dec. 21, did Batchiyska discover that she had not only been admitted to Syracuse University, but was also being given a financial aid package that covered all her costs.

“I was overwhelmed because, on one hand, I was so happy my hard work payed off, but, the on the other hand, I was nervous about the idea of going to New York,” Batchiyska said.

One of the multiple attributes that make Batchiyska so worthy of this honor is her passion and drive for journalism. Since spring 2010, she has been Editor-in-Chief of The Pearl Post and represented DPMHS in student panel discussions, writing competitions and national conventions. Now she is headed East to continue to further hone her skills by studying at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as a Broadcast and Digital Journalism major. According to US News and World Report, Syracuse is ranked in the top 100 schools in the nation.

Student athlete Ruvalcaba received his golden ticket a different way. In the viciously competitive field that is college athletics, students all over the nation are hoping they are one of the few selected for a full ride to join some of the nation’s best teams.

After four years of playing baseball for Birmingham Community Charter High School (BCCHS) and maintaining a GPA of 4.3, Ruvalcaba was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship from Illinois’ Bradley University, which is worth $9,000 a year. This was due to his academic achievements as well as his dedication to his extra curricular activities. Along with being captain of the BCCHS Varsity Baseball team, he also holds other leadership positions such as Senior Class President, House Prefect, New Media Editor for The Pearl Post and a church usher.

“I felt ecstatic because all I have done so far is apply and they are sending me a generous amount of money,” Ruvalcaba said.

Although he’s been offered this prestigious award and is very tempted to accept it, Ruvalcaba would like to wait until he hears back from other schools and their coaches before committing to Bradley.

“Nothing is certain yet, so I want to keep my options open before making a final decision,” Ruvalcaba said.