Lakshaya Bhardwaj, 17, has been awarded the Presidential scholarship at Florida International University after achieving a perfect score in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the standardised examination for admission to US colleges.
Apart from Florida University, he got admission offers from University of Texas at Arlington and University of Texas at Dallas.
Lakshaya, who completed his Class XII from DAV BSEB last year, is a student of Chanakya National Law University, at present. He scored 95 percentile in SAT and got 108 out of 120 in Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
He is also a student at Dexterity World, is a social enterprise that prepares students for national- and international-level competitions and for taking admission into world's topmost universities.
"Getting scholarships as international student in undergraduate courses in US universities is very difficult. I sent copies of my SAT and TOEFL results to five US universities and I received the full scholarship from Florida University. I got the 100 per cent scholarship on the basis of my academic record through high school, along with extra-curricular achievements and performance in interviews," said Lakshaya.
About the Presidential scholarship, he said: "The session will start from August 2015. I have been involved with debating, quizzing, musical performances and martial arts. Apart from working for the environment, I have worked for the education of street children." He will study bachelor in international relations in Florida University.
He added: "Besides the tuition fee, boarding and transportation, books, health insurance, miscellaneous and personal costs are included in the fully-funded four-year degree course at Florida International University."
Lakshaya was appointed the 11th regional ambassador of Tunza Eco Generation wing of United Nations Environment Programme, India, for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014.
He won prizes for debate and essay competitions like Indo-Korea Essay Competition and International School Essay Competition, UK. The turning point of his life when he got a call from the US to speak at Global Young Leader Conference in 2012. But he could not make it because of his matriculation exams. He said: "I still regret the moment when I could not attend the US conference."
Lakshaya said: "The happiness was enhanced because I could not go last year. Last year, I had got admission in Hartwick College but could not go due to delay in my Class XII marksheet."
"I am very proud to hear that my son got scholarship from a reputable university. New-generation children are both confident and aggressive. It's important to have a classroom and co-curricular balance. He always makes me proud of his work and dedication to the society," said Lakshaya's father Deepak Kumar Singh, state programme officer.
His mother Anamika Priyadarshee, a homemaker, is also happy.
Lakshaya also shared his aim and vision and wanted to acquire a quality of education which would enable to influence the world in a positive way.
"The ideal venue for me would be an international organisation or a policy making organisation," he added.
According to Florida International University norms, Presidential scholarships are given to those who have 2000 SAT or 30 ACT (American College Testing) score that would waive 100 per cent of tuition fees and books.
For Ambassador scholarship, a student needs 1850 SAT or 28 ACT score that would enable him/her to get 75 per cent waiver on tuition fees and books.
