Two Yates High School students got one of the best surprises of their lives so far — $40,000 each toward their college educations.

Janell Howard and Jamey Watts were on the volleyball, basketball, and track teams during their four years at Yates. That, along with their high grade point averages, made them eligible to apply to the Josie Haller Teal Scholarship.

Representatives for the fund stopped by the school on Monday to surprise the girls. Howard plans to attend Fisk University and major in business and organizational management, and Watts plans to attend the University of Texas and major in business and sports management.

The students will receive $10,000 per year for four years as long as they keep their grades up.

Dr. James S. Teal established the Josie Haller Teal Scholarship in honor of his late wife, who held the title of Miss Jack Yates High School in 1953-’54. She spent 38 years as an educator in the San Francisco Unified School District.

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