Ngan will also receive graduate school tuition as well as access to personal and professional development programmes.

She is one of two Kennedy High School seniors in the city to be presented with the prestigious scholarship.

The Vietnamese student moved to the US when she was seven years old. She now speaks fluent English and takes part in many charitable activities, in addition to excelling in her academic studies.

Each year 1,000 high school students from across the US are awarded Gates Millennium Scholarships from a pool of around 54,000 applicants. The students must complete a rigorous application process that includes writing eight essays, acquiring extensive recommendations and completing other paperwork to verify their eligibility. 

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation began the Millennium Scholarships in 1999 and has awarded over US$763 million to 16,000 students since 2000. The program promotes academic excellece and provides opportunities for minority students with significant financial needs.