Education

170 colleges offer $9m scholarships, admissions to teenage student

A 16-year-old student in Louisiana, United States, Dennis Maliq Barnes, has received more than 170 college acceptance letters and over $9 million in scholarship offers.

Barnes, a student at International High School of New Orleans, said he wasn’t initially looking to set any records.

“As I applied to more schools, as my numbers went up, with the financial aid and acceptances into universities, I became intrigued,” Barnes told CNN, adding that when he was told he was close to the record, he “just went for it.”

Barnes said he began applying to schools in August 2022 and took pride in watching the acceptances and scholarships roll in.

“It was never really a surprise for me once I reached that number,” he added.

READ ALSO: African-American student breaks U.S. school record with 100% grade

School officials said Barnes’ accomplishment sets a new world record and have reached out to the Guinness Book of World Records to make it official.

Barnes has a 4.98 GPA and is graduating two years early and hasn’t decided which school he will attend in the fall.

“I don’t know where I want to go. I intend to pursue computer science, and then go to law school,” he said.

Barnes credits his family and friends and faith in God for his accomplishments.

“I am a God-fearing young man; I keep God first,” he said.

Barnes has applied to 200 schools and plans to announce his final decision in early May before graduation on May 24, 2023.

Advising those coming behind him, the 16-year-old student said: “If you keep your school, your education a priority, and keep God in the mix, then you are definitely going to be successful no matter what you do.”

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Christmas: Make sacrifices for Nigeria’s devt, Adelabu urges Christians

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has urged Christians and other Nigerians to emulate the selfless…

23 mins ago

Ex-U.S. President Bill Clinton hospitalised

Former United States President Bill Clinton is in a Washington hospital for testing and observation…

4 hours ago

Sanwo-Olu: #EndSARS protest, one of my toughest moments as leader

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the October 2020 #EndSARS protest period as one…

5 hours ago

Tinubu: Why people died in palliative stampedes

President Bola Tinubu says the recent stampedes experienced during palliative distributions across the country were…

6 hours ago

MTN, banks raise stock market by N138bn

Recovering from its previous session’s loss, the stock market opened the week bullish, as investors…

6 hours ago

Tinubu: No going back on tax reforms, it won’t be El Dorado for Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu says the tax reforms bill before the National Assembly has come to…

7 hours ago

This website uses cookies.