Abigail Park, who is beginning her junior year at La Verne’s Bonita High School, has received a $40,000 scholarship from the College Board.

Park was surprised with the scholarship July 25, when she and her father were summoned to the Bonita Unified School District office. She had been told she was nominated for an extracurricular award, but details were vague.

When Park and her father, Min Park, entered the board room, they were greeted by the entire district office staff, Board of Education Vice President Chris Ann Horsley, Bonita High School Principal Kenny Ritchie and several representatives from the College Board.

“I was super surprised. I had no idea what to expect,” Park said in a news release. “Receiving the College Board scholarship will make me more explorative and push me harder. It also takes a lot of pressure off my family, knowing that I will be able to afford to go to college and get into my dream university.”

Park’s $40,000 scholarship is part of the College Board’s BigFuture college and career awareness campaign, which encourages high school students to begin preparing for their post-secondary future by completing a series of qualifying steps on the College Board website. These steps include making lists of colleges, careers and potential scholarships, as well as applying for financial benefits and submitting college applications.

When students complete these steps, they are automatically entered into the BigFuture scholarship contest, eligible to win $500 and $40,000 scholarships. Each month, two students in the United States receive a $40,000 BigFuture scholarship.

Park began compiling college and career lists as a sophomore, indicating an interest in majoring in subjects such as biology and education. She would like to work with animals, either as a marine biologist or veterinarian. Her older sister Rachel is in veterinary school.