"Some of the books that I've read are books like Hood Feminism, The Poet X, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces," says a 17-year-old senior with round glasses and long braids. The books, she says, sparked her feminist consciousness. "I just see, especially in my community, a lot of women being talked down upon and those books [were] really nice to read."

Students have the natural talent to fill the nation's most in-demand careers in healthcare, manufacturing, technology and finance. Education leaders may, however, be concerned that not enough students are being exposed to these fields, according to YouScience's 2024 State of the Future U.S. Workforce report.

The $200,000 payments are part of the charitable organization's $1 million effort to wipe out lunch debt at more than 750 schools nationwide. The national public school meal debt is $262 million a year.