Tavarez graduated from the Bronx High School of Science —the only of nine designated specialized high schools within the New York City system in the Bronx— this spring. Admission to these schools is primarily determined through the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), a competitive exam which many children often begin preparing for well in advance. “My mom went to Brooklyn Tech[nichal High School] way back in the ‘90s. Out of thousands of incoming Michigan State University students, Tavarez is only one of 51 recipients of the prestigious Williams Scholarship. I would recommend that for any other Michigan state students,” Tavarez explained.