Nigerian teen, from Long Island, talks about being accepted by the 12 colleges she applied to, including all eight Ivy League universities
Photo: Alejandra Villa/Newsday
Elmont Memorial High School valedictorian Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna talks about being accepted by the 12 colleges she applied to, including all eight Ivy League universities. She speaks about her passion and her plans for the future.
“Though I was born here in America, I visited Nigeria many times”
“And I’ve seen that my cousins don’t have the same opportunities that I have. So definitely, whatever I do, I want to make sure that it has an impact on Nigeria.”
Accepted to all eight Ivy League schools, as well as NYU, Johns Hopkins, MIT and Rensselear Polytechnic Institute.
GPA of 101.6 helped Augusta become the second Nigerian student at Elmont Memorial High School to gain acceptance to all the Ivys in consecutive years
Last year, Elmont’s Harold Ekeh chose Yale from among the 13 universities where he was accepted
It will be Harvard University for Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna this fall.
“I feel a sense of relief, but also a little sad that I had to reject the other 11 (colleges). They are all awesome schools.”
That is the school of choice for the Elmont high school valedictorian who was offered admission to all eight Ivy League colleges and four other top schools, and last month was among science fair stars feted at the White House by President Barack Obama.
The New York high school valedictorian accepted at all eight Ivy League universities has announced her decision Monday at Long Island’s Elmont Memorial High School, unzipping her sweatshirt to reveal a crimson Harvard shirt underneath. Behind her stood other members of the school’s graduating class, wearing t-shirts for schools such as Cornell, Duke and NYU.
Augusta received an invitation to the White House Science Fair. Science is her passion, and she was an Intel finalist for her research on cement that could help prevent underwater oil rigs from rupturing.
Augusta flanked by her parents.
Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, a New York teen who was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools, has chosen to attend Harvard. She announced the decision on Monday at her Long Island high school Newsday reports that the 17-year-old intends to pursue a science-related major. Augusta explained that she picked Harvard for its focus on the sciences and for its Nigerian community. wher both her parents emigrated from.
‘When visiting all these institutions I kind of came in with an open mind and I was really captivated by Harvard’s dedication to excellence, not only in certain students but in all students,’ she said.
Augusta continued: ‘I feel a sense of relief, but also a little sad that I had to reject the other 11. They are all awesome schools.’
Augusta chose Harvard for its focus on science and its Nigerian community
While Monday’s decision no doubt felt like a capstone to her high school education, Augusta still has a lot of work to do before she can accept her diploma.
I have AP physics tomorrow and two more this week and one next week,’ she said Monday. ‘So for now, I just want to focus and get back into the swing of things.’
In addition to the honor of being accepted to all eight Ivys, Augusta was also named her class’s valedictorian and met President Barack Obama recently when she was invited to the White House science fair.
Augusta is the second Elmont student in as many years to accomplish the Ivy sweep. Last year, Harold Ekeh chose Yale from among the 13 universities where he was accepted.
Although still a rarity, acceptance at every Ivy League school appears to be a growing phenomenon. Because the universities all operate independently on their admissions, reliable statistics aren’t available on how many students are accepted at all eight.
Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna. The second consecutive year an Elmont Memorial High student would sweep the Ivy league admissions stakes
The brainiac conveyor belt, Elmont Memorial High School. In addition to all eight Ivy Schools, Augusta was also accepted to NYU, MIT, Johns Hopkins University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
In 2015 it was another student of Nigerian heritage Elmont’s Harold Ekeh, then 17 (pictured with his mother) decided on Yale.
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