Anthony Santiago didn't know Tuesday morning he had been selected to be given a Smile Scholarship by an international non-profit organization which provides free orthodontic care for underserved exceptional kids.
The Wawona eighth grader was selected because he has grown up with difficult circumstances, but continues to work hard while maintaining good grades.
Santiago says he's wanted braces for a long time! "I will encourage others to try harder in life so they can also get this opportunity like I did. I just want my parents to be proud of me and I feel so excited," said Santiago.
The Fresno/Clovis chapter of Smile for a Lifetime gives out 12 of these scholarships every year.
It's available to children between the ages of 11 and 17, who have GPAs of 2.0 or higher
