Local public schools and their educators have produced America’s most brilliant artists, scientists, doctors, musicians, lawyers, presidents, and more—people from all walks of life, contributing to society in countless ways.

Given the incredible challenges and obstacles they faced, we’re especially proud of the Class of 2021 graduates, their families, and the dedicated educators and support staff who helped millions of students successfully complete the school year.

Out all the entrants in Schott’s Proud #PublicSchoolGrad scholarship contest, we’re proud to announce that Daija Wilson is this year’s winner! Daija is a 2021 graduate of Linden High School, a public school in Linden, New Jersey.

Daija credits her school counselor in particular in helping her along the road to success. “In most occasions, high schoolers really don’t know their [school] counselors,” she said. “My situation was different because my counselor was also my cheer coach, and she got to know me more than a normal counselor would.”

Daija’s counselor assisted her in her academic, athletic, and personal life throughout her high school career. “I was incredibly blessed… She created a safe environment for me while also helping me academically.”

Unfortunately, many public school students don’t have the kind of supportive and aspirational influence in their schools like Daija had: according to the American School Counselor Association, the average student-to-counselor ratio in the United States is 464 to 1. Nearly 1 in 5 students—8 million students—don’t have access to a counselor in school at all. The desperate need for more counselors, along with more equitable funding for student supports generally, is why we at Schott support grassroots networks like the Dignity in Schools Campaign are working tirelessly to shift funding away from the school-to-prison pipeline and toward more counselors like Daija had.

As she leaves high school, those who come after Daija have a chance for a better-resourced education. States and districts right now are determining how to spend $123 billion in new funding from the American Rescue Plan: it’s up to all of us to make sure community voices are heard loud and clear in city halls and statehouses across the country (check out our new toolkit to learn how you can join in).

Daija Wilson has been accepted to Rider University and will attend in the fall.