Chicago Teen Awarded $3 Million in Scholarship Funds
With the rising costs of a higher education, families often depend on substantial financial aid to help offset the price tag of a college degree.
Although the task may seem daunting, one Chicago teenager has proven that this challenge can be overcome. With acceptances to 26 colleges, including six Ivy League schools, Chicago teenager Arianna Alexander has been awarded over $3 million in scholarship money.
As valedictorian of Kenwood Academy, Alexander boasts a 5.1 GPA. Although she was initially overwhelmed by the amount of offers, Alexander has decided to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She credits her teacher Paul Brush for informing her of the prestigious program.
Alexander also credits her success to the advice and support of her father. With three older children having already graduated from college, Alexander’s father, Pierre, sees the opportunity as a "blessing." The goal to receive this enormous sum in financial aid was inspired by the achievement of a previous Kenwood student who received $1 million in scholarship funds.
“I planted the seed in Arianna’s mind that you can do the same thing,” he said. “So when the process got started and a million was achieved, let’s go to two. I said let’s go to three and she did it.”
Now college bound, Alexander has started to solidify her future goals. She is set to study business and enter the food service industry. She intends to own four restaurants and has already begun working on the menus for her establishments.
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(Photo: WLS-TV/ABC-7, Local News Chicago)
