Verona High School Student Awarded $400,000 Scholarship

Ja'kylah Powers, a senior, received the largest scholarship ever given by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:06am

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A visually striking grid of neon-colored college textbooks, conceptually representing the transformative power of educational opportunities and scholarships.A scholarship award of this magnitude can open doors to a world of educational and career opportunities for exceptional students like Ja'kylah.Madison Today

Ja'kylah Powers, a Verona Area High School senior, was awarded a $400,000 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. The scholarship, one of the largest in the country, was given to Ja'kylah in recognition of her leadership, character, community impact, and academic goals. Ja'kylah plans to study law and psychology at Florida Memorial University.

Why it matters

This scholarship represents a life-changing opportunity for Ja'kylah, who has faced significant challenges growing up, including attending 11 different schools and working full-time since age 16. The Boys & Girls Club hopes this scholarship will inspire other donors to support more students like Ja'kylah and create more pathways to success for the next generation.

The details

Ja'kylah was selected for the scholarship from 94 applicants in a highly competitive process. The selection committee was impressed by her leadership, character, commitment to community impact, and future academic goals. Despite facing family transitions and challenges, Ja'kylah has maintained a strong work ethic, volunteering to help remove student debt for her peers.

  • Ja'kylah was awarded the $400,000 scholarship on April 1, 2026.
  • Ja'kylah has worked full-time at Jersey Mike's Sub and Sandwich Shop since she was 16 years old.

The players

Ja'kylah Powers

A senior at Verona Area High School who was awarded a $400,000 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. Ja'kylah plans to study law and psychology at Florida Memorial University.

Michael Johnson

The President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, who announced Ja'kylah's scholarship and praised her as a 'very, very special person'.

Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

The organization that awarded the $400,000 scholarship to Ja'kylah Powers, one of the largest scholarships they have ever given.

Anonymous Family Foundation

The donor that provided the funding for Ja'kylah's $400,000 scholarship, their first donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County.

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What they’re saying

“We had business leaders, educators, a couple of parents and Boys and Girls Club staff who went through all those applications, and she stood out because she was so impressive.”

— Michael Johnson, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

“I think I scared all of the customers at Jersey Mike's. I was just screaming in the bathroom.”

— Ja'kylah Powers

“If people really knew some of the challenges this young woman has gone through, they would be amazed. It's remarkable that she's in this position that she's in. She is smart. She is so poised. She's so young and working full time, going to school full time, and helping to raise her siblings.”

— Michael Johnson, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

What’s next

The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County will announce $5,000 scholarships for four additional students next week.

The takeaway

This scholarship demonstrates the transformative impact that targeted financial support can have on ambitious and resilient students like Ja'kylah, who have overcome significant obstacles to pursue their educational and career goals. The Boys & Girls Club's efforts to identify and empower exceptional young people like Ja'kylah serve as an inspiring model for other organizations and donors seeking to invest in the next generation.