Six KIPP Public Schools Students Win $60,000 Webb Scholarship
Contact: Debra Wexler, dwexler@kipp.org, 929-729-0375
New York, NY— KIPP Public Schools and the Webb Family Foundation today announced the 2026 recipients of the Webb Scholarship. The six selected students will each receive a $60,000 scholarship to defray the costs of college, along with one-on-one mentorship and funded attendance at a summer leadership-development retreat. They will also participate in a community project designed to deliver lasting, measurable impact on issues important to the Scholars. This year’s cohort of Webb Scholars includes four KIPP Northern California students and two students from KIPP Jacksonville in Florida.
“These six students are exactly who we had in mind when we created the Webb Scholars program,” said Maynard and Irene Webb, founders of the Webb Family Foundation. “They have led, served, and excelled academically, often while carrying responsibilities far beyond their years. We are deeply honored to support them on the journey to college and can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”
Created in 2022, the Webb Scholars Program honors students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to community impact. The 2026 Webb Scholars are:
Heaven Cottemond, a senior at KIPP Bold City High School in Jacksonville, is an aspiring orthodontist driven by a deep commitment to equity in healthcare. As president of the Student Government Association, she has organized school-wide initiatives including a campus blood drive. She also serves as a school ambassador and volleyball player. A family crisis during Heaven’s freshman year deepened her understanding of how access to support and opportunity can change the course of a life. She plans to pursue orthodontics with the goal of addressing the underrepresentation of Black women in the field and expanding access to quality dental care in underserved communities. Heaven plans to study biology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Lizbeth Aya Leon, a senior at KIPP King Collegiate High School in San Lorenzo, California, plans to major in biology and pursue pediatric cancer research as a first-generation college student. Lizbeth interned at Stanford’s Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, where she investigated CAR T-cell therapy for patients with recurrent glioblastoma in a Phase I clinical trial and presented her findings to researchers at a national conference. When an illness struck a family member during high school, she became a primary caretaker, earning top grades while balancing schoolwork with household responsibilities. She also leads her school’s Mental Health Club, creating a space where students across every grade can prioritize their well-being.
Shazijyah Murray, a senior at KIPP Bold City High School in Jacksonville, is an aspiring pediatrician already making a difference for low-income families. As president of her school’s chapter of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), she launched Healthy Greyhound Pups: Kids’ Wellness Zone, a community initiative bringing movement activities, nutrition education, and wellness resources to local families. During a healthcare internship, she helped connect a struggling first-time mother with resources through UF Health and the Nurse Family Partnership program—support that helped the young mother welcome a healthy baby. Shazijyah will be the first in her family to attend college, and plans to attend the University of Central Florida where she plans to study nursing.
Katie Ngo, a senior at KIPP King Collegiate High School in San Lorenzo, California, is a teen entrepreneur honoring her Vietnamese refugee grandmother’s legacy. Inspired by her grandmother’s years of factory sewing work to support her family, Katie launched a secondhand clothing business focused on sustainable and affordable fashion. What began as a small idea has grown into more than 350 orders, over $7,000 in revenue, and an estimated 1,000 gallons of water saved. She also serves as Financial Director of the True Nature Environmental Restoration Foundation, supporting more than 75 restoration projects. Katie will study economics at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jessica Ngok, a senior at KIPP King Collegiate High School in San Lorenzo, California, is an emerging environmental scientist and the daughter of deaf parents, for whom she has served as a linguistic and cultural bridge her entire life. She also helps care for her grandparents at home. Her research journey has taken her from a Stanford biogeochemistry lab to the glaciers of Alaska, where she was selected as one of just eight students nationwide for a 14-day mountaineering and research expedition. A captain of her school’s varsity cross-country team, she has logged more than 1,000 community service hours across habitat restoration, medical supply distribution, and Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy.
Jack Zhou, a senior at KIPP King Collegiate High School in San Lorenzo, California, is a student leader who carries significant responsibilities at home and at school. He serves as the primary caretaker for three younger siblings and acts as the linguistic bridge for his immigrant parents, all while maintaining a rigorous academic schedule. To help support his family, Jack taught piano and launched a small tutoring business, including free sessions for low-income learners that he meets with weekly. He also founded his school’s Science Olympiad club— recruiting members, preparing the team for competitions, and building a community that continues to grow. Jack plans to study engineering with the goal of advancing nanotechnology in medicine.
As part of the Webb Scholars program, each recipient will:
- Receive an annual stipend of $15,000 to be used towards books and course materials, a computer, professional clothing, travel, or other expenses not covered by their financial aid packages.
- Pursue a community-impact project in partnership with local nonprofit or small business leaders.
- Attend a leadership development retreat with current and past Webb Scholars
- Enjoy mentorship and career development through one-on-one support and ongoing virtual learning opportunities
“The 2026 Webb Scholars have already conducted original research at Stanford and in the field, built businesses from scratch, navigated challenges with grace, and advocated for their communities with skill and conviction,” said KIPP Foundation CEO Shavar Jeffries. “Our country needs more leaders like them, and we are profoundly grateful to the Webb Family Foundation for investing in their futures and in the communities they will go on to serve.”
About the Webb Family Foundation
The Webb Family Foundation supports education, health, and sustainability as a path toward helping people persevere and the planet thrive. We leverage the full assets of the Foundation to amplify our impact. Founded in 2004, the Foundation has primarily supported education-focused organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on encouraging all young people, regardless of circumstance, to achieve more than they thought possible. In this spirit, the Foundation recently expanded its mission, program, and geographic areas, with a vision that all humans can reach their greatest potential and wellbeing in harmony with the planet.
About KIPP
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of 279 public charter schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and life. KIPP Public Schools are tuition-free, and enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle-school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll nearly 125,000 students in pre-K through high school, and it operates schools in 21 states and Washington, D.C.