Universities are in a frenzy to recruit a Chicago valedictorian who received acceptance letters from 26 colleges and $3 million dollars in scholarships – a new city record.
The schools – including six Ivy League institutions – are fighting over Arianna Alexander, a Kenwood Academy senior with a 5.1 GPA, sending her a barrage of messages urging her to join their student rolls.
She told Chicago’s ABC 7, “At first it was a lot to take in. I received emails, letters. It was just like ‘Come here, come here.’ They were bombarding me with all this information.”
While Arianna’s GPA is impressive, she said it was a plan hatched by her father that incited the flurry of college admissions and money. Pierre Alexander had heard of another Kenwood student who had been offered $1 million in scholarships a few years ago and immediately thought of his daughter.
“I planted the seed in Arianna’s mind that you can do the same thing,” the proud dad boasted to Illinois TV station.
According to BlackDoctor.org Arianna worked hard at school, earning no less than a B grade in every class since the seventh grade. She also won the coveted Gates scholarship.
When it came time to apply for college, Pierre Alexander said his daughter quickly exceed their $1 million goal. “So when the process got started and a million was achieved, [I said] let’s go for two. [Then] I said let’s go for three and she did it.”
He is relieved that he will not have to shoulder the cost of Arianna’s education. “It was a big blessing because I’ve already put three [children] through college. Now I don’t have to worry too much about her.”
As for Arianna, the talented teen has decided to study business at the University of Pennsylvania. UPenn‘s Wharton business school is known for its global reach.
She hopes the school will give her the tools she needs to achieve her dream to own four restaurants.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
