Outstanding 17-year-old girl wins $1.4million scholarship to 34 US universities, set to become a Surgeon
“I have so many mentors who are very adamant on me being successful because they’ve been where I’ve been and they’ve made it, so they want me to be as successful as them because they know I can do it,” she added.
okpe chinenye 
Dana Bolden, a remarkable 17-year-old from Mississippi, is making waves in the academic world with her extraordinary achievement of accumulating scholarship offers worth a staggering $1.4 million from 34 prestigious universities and colleges across the United States.
Currently in her senior year at Jim Hill High School in Jackson, Dana's journey began when she contemplated her college and scholarship applications during the summer break. Inspired by a fellow student who earned over $1 million in scholarships during her sophomore year, Dana decided to embark on a similar path.
Her dedication and hard work paid off as she secured an astounding $1.4 million in scholarships. In an interview with GMA, Dana expressed her gratitude for this remarkable feat, saying, "I didn't think that I would get to this point of $1.4 million in scholarships, but I'm very grateful that I am and I'm very grateful that I have the opportunity to get this far."
READ ALSO:Nigerian Scholar Bags 4.90/5.00 First-Class in Accounting, Wins Best Student Award
Frank Branch, an academic advisor at Jim Hill High School, emphasized the rarity of Dana's accomplishment, stating, "Every year, we normally would have $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million 'scholarship babies,' as we call them. But this is the first time that we've had anyone achieve over a million dollars in September."
Dana's talents extend beyond her academic prowess. She is a Clarinetist in the Jim Hill High School Marching Band and an active member of the speech and debate team, as well as student government. Dana attributes her success to her mentors, with special recognition for Jim Hill Principal Bobby Brown, who played a pivotal role in helping her achieve her aspirations. She shared her journey of overcoming challenges, saying, "I almost gave up. I tried to give up. I had so many people push me to be better and to do better, and I'm so grateful that I did, because without them, I would not have this."
Expressing her gratitude to her mentors, Dana explained, "I have so many mentors who are very adamant on me being successful because they've been where I've been and they've made it, so they want me to be as successful as them because they know I can do it."
Dana's commitment to her dreams led her to apply to over 60 colleges and approximately 80 scholarships. As of now, she has received acceptances and scholarships from 34 schools, with more responses expected from her remaining applications.
Inspirational and determined, Dana encourages her classmates to chase their own dreams and not be hindered by self-doubt. She advised, "A lot of my classmates put off applying to college because they think that they're not good enough to get in, or they don't think that they'll meet the standards that they've set for themselves, but I feel like all you have to do is sit down, make this list, apply to colleges. You never know where you'll end up."
Dana's ultimate aspiration is to attend Duke University, where she hopes to major in biology and pursue a career in medicine as a trauma surgeon. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the limitless potential that young individuals can achieve with dedication, hard work, and unwavering support from mentors and loved ones.
