This story was first reported on blacknews.com.
Dana Bolden, a high school senior at Jim Hill High School in Jackson, Mississippi, has already secured over $1.4 million in scholarships just 3 months into her senior year.
On October 12, the school celebrated Bolden’s impressive scholarship achievement. Teachers, staff, and fellow students all gathered to applaud her. Bolden, with a solid 3.8 GPA, decided to apply to a lot of schools. She has so far been accepted to 34 out of the 60 schools she applied to and she expects more to come.
“A lot of students only look at Mississippi schools. And I feel like if you only limit yourself to schools in the state or where you’re from, then you’re not going to reach the full potential that you can reach,” she told WJTV.
After she graduates, Bolden said she has plans to pursue a major in biology.
forwp-incontent-ad2">Meanwhile, the school administrators noted that Bolden achieved a remarkable accomplishment for a high school student, especially so early in the school year.
Especially when access and resources available for the higher education of Black students are under fire, scholarships for Black students are more critically needed than ever. Bolden is just one example of what financial assistance for Black students can do for their futures.
According to Scholarshop.com, “African American students face a multitude of financial challenges when pursuing higher education. Scholarships are of crucial importance in addressing this need and providing opportunities for access to education. These scholarships serve as a lifeline for African-American students who could come from low-income backgrounds or underprivileged communities. The high cost of college tuition and associated expenses can be overwhelming,
leading to hefty student debt burdens. Scholarships help alleviate this financial burden by providing much-needed financial aid, reducing the need for student loans. By lessening the financial strain, scholarships enable African American students to focus on their studies and achieve academic success.”