Central Islip student receives prestigious scholarship that covers college tuition, books, food & housing

Central Islip High School senior Chris Hidalgo will have no college debt.

That’s because he’s been named a Gates Scholar.

The Gates Scholarship Program (part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) will be covering his tuition, books, food and even housing.

Hidalgo is one of 750 scholars chosen from a pool of more than 53,000 people.

He said when he found out he was a recipient, he started “screaming” at the top of his lungs.

Hildago’s teacher and mentor, Darren Ehrhardt, described Hidalgo as “very smart” and “very highly ranked.” He encouraged him to apply for the scholarship.

Hidalgo said that knowing he’ll be covered for college financially is “life changing.”

He hopes to study computer science. He hasn’t picked a school yet but says he is leaning toward Stony Brook University.