ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Tony Nguyen has spent the last four years working to achieve his goal of going to college. When he started high school he planned to accomplish whatever was necessary to get him into the school of his dreams.

“When high school started I just wanted to go to college, so those higher achievements were required,” he said.

Nguyen factored in grades, community service, extra-curriculars and honor societies, but he didn't count on a pandemic interrupting all of his hard work. Tony hasn't been able to attend school in person since March and he admits it's been a challenge.

Even though virtual learning gives him more time with his family, it was never part of the plan. He may be the shy and quiet type, but he's still missing the classic senior experience he was looking forward to so much.

Wendy Channell, a teacher at Pasquotank County High School, had Nguyen in a science class during his junior year. She says he stood out to her then as a student with a bright future and she's continued to watch him excel through his senior year even amid all of the challenges.

“The teachers that have had Tony in class all say the same thing,” said Channell. “It's his quietness that makes him stand out and his ability to take on any challenge that he's given and be successful at it.”

But, Nguyen hasn't let anything stop him so far. Even though he doesn't know what college will look like for him, he's applied to seven different schools and has been accepted to six of them so far. On top of that, he's now been recognized as a high school scholar of the week. Upon graduating, he will receive a $1,000 scholarship that goes to the school of his choice.

“I just can't say enough about what a good person that he is and what he really does for everybody and with this area being so impoverished and not really thought of, this is a really big deal for this area and for him and his family,” said Channell.