AMERICA | A 17-year-old African-American girl named Makenzie Williams has achieved outstanding success after graduating top of her class and securing scholarship offers worth over $1.4 million from 75 universities across the United States.
Makenzie, a senior at Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana, earned the achievement through her focus on her studies. She credited her success to the support of her mentors.
Her efforts paid off as she emerged as the best graduating student in her class of 274 and earned an impressive 27 on the ACT, a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States.
Makenzie’s mother, Keyonya Williams, expressed pride in how far her daughter has come and how dedicated she has been over the years.
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She stated that for Makenzie, the journey was not just about collecting acceptances, it was about finding a place where she would truly feel seen and supported.
Out of her 75 acceptances, Makenzie chose to attend Dillard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in New Orleans, because she wanted a school that would support her academically and culturally while allowing her to stay in Louisiana.
Makenzie said her achievement is especially powerful given the broader challenges Black students face with scholarship access.
While the average U.S. student receives around $7,800 in scholarships, Black students are often underrepresented in scholarship awards and must apply to more to receive similar funding.
In another story, Chase Matthews, a 17-year-old high school senior from Westlake High School in South Fulton County, Georgia, has achieved an extraordinary milestone in the United States.
She received acceptance letters from 155 universities across all 50 states and secured a total of $6 million in scholarships, making her one of the most highly awarded high school seniors in Georgia’s history.
Matthews attributed her success to hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of her mentors. The Principal of Westlake High school, Gregory Minnis, praised her achievements, describing her as a true example of excellence. Read more about Matthews HERE.
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