AFRICA | A 17-year-old girl named Ashanti Palmer, has set a remarkable record at Nellie A. Thornton High School after graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 2020 and securing an impressive $430,000 scholarship to further her education at the university level.
Ashant's Story and How She Did It
Ashanti’s academic excellence did not happen overnight. Her journey began in kindergarten, where she first stepped into the Mount Vernon City School District. From that moment, she displayed a level of discipline that would eventually define her future.
Incredibly, Ashanti completed her entire academic career without missing a single day of school, achieving perfect attendance from kindergarten through 12th grade, a rare accomplishment that stunned her teachers.
“There were days when I didn’t feel like going to school, but I knew missing even one day would set me back. So I pushed through. My friends know I hate being behind in my work, so it became normal for me to show up,” she said.
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Ashanti graduated with honors, becoming the overall best graduating student of her high school. She described being named valedictorian as a deeply rewarding moment.
“It feels good because it shows that all the hard work I’ve put in over the years has paid off, and that effort is being celebrated in a big way,” she said.
Even her perfect attendance was not intentional at first.“It wasn’t something I was aiming for. By 10th grade, I realized I hadn’t missed a day, and then I wanted to keep the streak,” she shared.
Her principal praised her as a model student who embodies determination, focus, and resilience.
“We have a student who’s never missed school and who has been on the honor roll since kindergarten. How do we not celebrate that? She stayed on the path. She stayed on the journey. It’s phenomenal.”
Ashanti’s brilliance and consistency have earned her a $430,000 scholarship, ensuring she can pursue her dreams without financial burden. She plans to study Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the United States.
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