Ellen DeGeneres surprises New York City charter school seniors with college scholarships

LOS ANGELES — Ellen DeGeneres has handed out college scholarships to the entire senior class of a New York City charter school.

DeGeneres surprised the 41 students from Brooklyn’s Summit Academy this week at her California studio during the taping of Thursday’s episode of her chat show . The four-year scholarships paid for by Wal-Mart will cover tuition for any state university in New York. DeGeneres says the entire gift is worth $1.6 million.

The school’s first graduating class was last year. School officials tell DeGeneres that 93 percent of members of the class are enrolled in college.

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