Whitehaven High School Student Zariah Nolan celebrating her educational success (Zariah Nolan via Twitter)

Students at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., have 80 million reasons to be proud of their academic endeavors because its graduating class has secured more than $80 million in scholarships.




Last week the students were honored at their Academic Signing Day, but one student took home the largest piece of the scholarship pie, according to ABC News.


Zariah Nolan, who will be the first of her siblings to attend college, received $9.6 million in scholarship offers, including 17 full-ride offers, and is heading off to Dillard University in the fall.

Nolan used the Common Black College Application, which allows students to apply to any number of 51 HBCUs at the same time for just $35, instead of paying multiple college application fees that could range up to $80.

Whitehaven’s student population is 99 percent African American, and a lot of its current teachers, as well as its principal, are products of the high school.

Principal Vincent J. Hunter says the breakdown of his team at Whitehaven is unique in that 32 staff members are graduates of the high school.


“It’s really personal for us,” Principal Hunter said. “It’s important for us to be our brother’s keeper, and we work hard to make sure our kids are prepared for life after graduation.”

Read more at ABC News.