A Bronx student acted his way to the top in a national acting competition.

Fordham School for the Arts senior Tigona Davy was a finalist in the August Wilson National Monologue Competition. Tigona learned about the competition from a group called LEAP, Learning Through an Expanded Arts Program.

Tigona's monologue was originally written by Wilson, and discusses the oppression of African-Americans.

While Tigona did not win the competition, he says he wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

As an added benefit, actor Denzel Washington gave each competitor $1,000 for participating.

Tigona says he'll use the money to help him pay for college next year at the University of Bridgeport.