Seniors at Chicago's Johnson College Prep are going to college for free next year
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's a moment these Chicago students will never forget: the announcement they will all go to college for free.
''60 Minutes'' captured the excitement in the spring.
As CBS 2's Irika Sargent reported Thursday, the seniors returned to Johnson College Prep, 6350 S. Stewart Ave., for the first day of their final year in high school and they're still buzzing about that surprise.
A little more than the usual back to school hoopla at a school that received attention for all the right reasons earlier this year. Hope Chicago shocked the students with a massive announcement: All 500 students could go to college and not pay a penny.
While Thursday was business as usual, as the students buzzed around the hallways, excitement is still in the air.
"It feels amazing to go to college for free."
Senior Alissa Martin dreams of becoming a pediatric surgeon. She can now plan her college career without worrying about money.
"Knowing that other people want to see me succeed and want to see me get through college and have a career, it makes me feel supported," Martin said.
"I was shocked."
Jeremy Mitchell is also college bound, also for free. The budding entrepreneur will never forget that fateful day.
"It's kind of like an Oprah moment. Like 'you get a car! You get a car!' But instead of a car, it's for college. And then the balloons and the streamers are coming down. Everybody's like 'yeah! I just couldn't believe it."
"If I wasn't going to get a full ride, I don't think I would have gone to college. Now that I am given the opportunity, I can say 100% sure I'm going to college," Mitchell said.
That's not all. The scholarships apply both to the students and their parents. Both Alissa and Jeremy said their moms may go to college now as well.
"She's just been talking about us graduating at the same time and she's been talking about us walking across the stage at the same time," Mitchell said.
The Englewood school's principal, Jonas Cleaves, calls the scholarship assembly the most amazing moment of his career. He had to keep the secret for a month ahead of time and now is thrilled the whole world knows.
"It feels amazing knowing I have the opportunity to go to college for free and not worry about debt or stress of paying for school," added Martin.
The students in Englewood found out in the spring they'll get fully paid tuition, room, board and fees.
