YPSILANTI, MI - Washtenaw International High School seniors Olabisi Bolanle and Shyaoman Zhang didn't know what to expect when they arrived at the school's media center on Wednesday, May 24, for some type of special recognition.

They were shocked to hear they'd both won $50,000 for college, as the first recipients of WIHI's new "Exceptional Learner Scholarship."

Bolanle - who goes by Bisi - and Zhang hugged and shook hands with school staff as they processed the news, before embracing their parents, who were in attendance for the occasion.

Bisi and his mother, Grace Bolanle, had tears streaming down their faces as Grace told her son how proud she is of him. Bisi's father, Tosh Bolanle, joined the celebration shortly after the announcement was made.

"It's very surprising. I'm truly grateful, because everyone here is super qualified, super well-rounded. It's great," Bisi said, still emotional after the announcement as his friends continued to congratulate him.

Usually one to shy away from the spotlight, Zhang was more reserved as she accepted the recognition. Her mother, Hong Lin, said they were still in shock even as the students who joined to watch the scholarship announcement started heading back to class.

The Exceptional Learner Scholarship was established by an anonymous donor earlier this year. Up to two WIHI graduates every year for the next 13 years will each receive $12,500 a year for up to four years of college, totaling $50,000 a piece toward a bachelor's degree.

In all, the scholarship fund will distribute more than $1 million to WIHI graduates who otherwise would have a difficult time affording college.

Bisi is headed to Emory University in Atlanta this fall, where he plans to study biology and business administration en route to becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Zhang will attend the Rhode Island School of Design, where she wants to go into a field related to design or illustration.

Bisi is captain of the soccer team at Lincoln High School, which is his home school although he's attended WIHI for all four years of high school. He's the lead saxophonist at his church, a peer educator with Planned Parenthood and member of the National Honor Society.

An immigrant from Nigeria, Bisi said he's thankful for the sacrifices his family made to give him more opportunity. When Bisi was two weeks old, his father moved to the U.S. on a student visa, and the rest of their family wasn't able to join him until four years later. At 4 years old and interacting with Tosh for practically the first time, Bisi said he didn't recognize at first that his older brother's father was also his father.

Zhang's family also immigrated to the United States. Lin moved from China in 1996 to earn her docorate, and Zhang was born here. Her father is Xiaowu Zhang.

Shyaoman Zhang is a visual artist, accomplished pianist and leader with the National Honor Society and WIHI's school climate committee. She's received state-level honors in forensics and national recognition with the Art Corner Studio. Zhang's home district is Saline Area Schools.

Saline Superintendent Scot Graden, Lincoln Superintendent Sean McNatt, Washtenaw Intermediate School District Superintendent Scott Menzel and Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds also attended Wednesday's scholarship announcement.

WIHI is an International Baccalaureate high school in Ypsilanti that enrolls students from Washtenaw County's nine traditional public schools through the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium. WIHI expects all 90 students in its Class of 2017 to graduate this spring and pursue higher education. The school ranks among the top in the state for graduates enrolled in college and students' performance on the SAT.

"Olabisi and Shyaoman are two exceptional students from a class of 90 outstanding students at WIHI, and we are deeply proud and delighted for them as though they were our own children," said Principal Nhu Do, in a press release.

The scholarship recipients were selected by Scholarship America, an external organization, based on financial need, academic achievement and personal and family circumstances. School counselor Brian Nemerovski helped prepare the WIHI students' scholarship applications.

"Bisi and Shyaoman represent the very best attributes of our community and inspire us to be better educators. They are totally deserving of recognition through the WIHI Exceptional Learner Scholarship," Nemerovski said in a press release. "Bisi is - in a word - magnetic. He engages all those he meets with academic brilliance, a commitment to inclusion and his unique sense of humor.

"Shyaoman has impeccable integrity. ... She can frequently be found staying late at school to help a friend or staff member," Nemerovski continued. "She lends her skills and compassion to a myriad of initiatives in our community, specifically in visual arts and music."

Zhang and Bisi both credited their experiences at WIHI for preparing them for success after high school. Bisi said he was inspired by his peers' commitment to their education and appreciative of the support they received from their teachers. Zhang said she learned the value of collaborative work.

"I learned about having to share ideas with everyone," she said. "We have a really close-knit community here. As long as you some kind of shared experience, it's going to be worth it."