The Los Angeles-based Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has announced $1 million in college scholarships to fifty-five high school seniors from Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia and Orange County Public Schools in Florida.

Every year, the foundation awards $1 million in college scholarships to winners and finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education, the nation's largest education award honoring urban school districts. Gwinnett County Public Schools and Orange County Public Schools, which were recognized in 2014 for being the most improved urban school districts in the country, are the first co-winners in the history of the prize.

Broad Prize scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors who have shown improvement throughout their high school careers and who have financial need. Broad Prize scholars receive two- or four-year scholarships depending on the type of institution they choose to attend. Scholarship recipients who enroll in four-year institutions receive $20,000 paid out over four years, while students who enroll in two-year institutions receive $5,000 scholarships paid out over two years. The scholarship selection and disbursement process is managed by Scholarship America.

In 2014, the Broad Prize review board named only two district finalists, Gwinnett and Orange counties, citing its disappointment with the progress of urban education since the launch of the prize in 2002. The two finalists subsequently were named co-winners of the prize, and each was awarded $500,000 in scholarships. The foundation announced earlier this year that it was putting the prize on hold because of the slow pace of urban school district improvement and the changing landscape of K-12 public education.

"While the Broad Prize is on pause, we are proud to continue supporting talented, hard-working students in urban public schools," said Broad Foundation president Bruce Reed. "The Broad Prize scholars show how much students can achieve despite great odds. We congratulate them and wish them well as they pursue their goals."