Nigerian Born Ekeh Gets Admission Into All Ivy League Schools
Nigerian descent high school senior Harold Ekeh didn’t just get into one Ivy League university. He was accepted into all eight.
Now comes the really hard part: Deciding where to go. He actually got into all 13 schools he applied to, including MIT and Johns Hopkins.
Ekeh was born in Nigeria and came to the United States when he was eight. He wrote his main college essay about the struggle to adjust, including being clueless in U.S. history classes at school. He said he would ask his parents repeatedly why they moved.
“We had a fairly comfortable life in Nigeria, but they told me we moved to America for the opportunities like the educational opportunities,” he recalled.
The salutatorian is quick to credit his parents, school and community for his success.s, offering advice on the college application process. Now Ekeh is trying to do the same thing.
Ekeh is leaning towards going to Yale as some of the Yale students he met became his friends and mentor. Ekeh, 17, founded a college mentoring program at his school, Elmont Memorial High School on Long Island in the New York city suburbs. His goal is to get more students into top universities.
“I am very humbled by this,” Ekeh said. “It’s not just for me, but for my school and community. We can accomplish great things here.”
Ekeh wants to major in neurobiology or chemistry in college and later become doctor and, ultimately, a neurosurgeon. He was named a 2015 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist earlier this year for his research on how the acid DHA can slow Alzheimer’s.
For Ekeh, the cause is personal. His grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when he was 11. One of his proudest moments was running home to tell his mother and aunts about the breakthroughs he was finding with DHA.
“When other kids would say, ‘I want to be a superhero or police officer,’ I would say, ‘I want to know what is on the inside of us,'” he said.
The key to success: Outside of the lab, Ekeh directs a youth choir at his church, plays the drums, is part of Key Club and Model UN and was elected to the Homecoming court. He speaks Igbo and Spanish and has a 100.5% GPA. He’s proud of acing the AP History Exam despite his early struggles with the subject.
Elmont High School is 99% minority. Ekeh is the second student in recent years to win a prestigious Intel Science award.
Principal John Capozzi calls Ekeh “one of the most humble young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet.” The lab where Ekeh did his award-winning research is modest and only staffed part-time by a passionate chemistry teacher, but the community makes the most of what it has.
Ekeh will spend the coming weeks visiting all the schools before making his final decision.
His advice to other high school students is simple: “Like my parents always told us, the secret to success is unbridled resolve.”
Source: CNNMONEY
Wow to say I am impressed is an understatement. This is one of the few Nigerians making us proud. Go boy!!! Congratulations.
Congratulations to him!
wow,gud boy indeed
Nigerians are brilliant. congrats boy for Making us proud.
Wow that’s a great achievement. Congratulations and more grease to your elbow. Making Nigerians especially his family proud
He is blessed…..
Congratulations boy
A big wow!Am very impressed.I don’t know you boy but I love you already.A very intelligent boy.You rock
Congrats to him
Message.. Awwww makin em country proud.
Congrats boy 4 making Nigeria proud
Wow! This is great… Congrats boy
God bless u 4 making us proud
Blessed boy. Congrats dear
Wow we’re proud of u young man keep it up
Wow! This is so interesting……. Am proud of you boy and please keep it up.
I wish him d best
All the best dear, make us proud..
Wow…congratulations….his parents must be proud. This is how it should be
Wow
Congratulations
Proudly nigerian
Doing us proud!
Tnx 4 making Nigerias proud nd congrats 2 him. More grace 2 ur elbow
All d best boy…massive congrats to u.
Congratulations,we need more Nigerians like you and parents like yours.Best wishes.
The blessings of God.
We are proud of u
Congratulations young man. You shall continue to excel. I also tap this for my children.