Finding funding for undergrad can be challenging. But one Georgia student knows a thing or two about snagging scholarships for school, because she’s just secured $1.8 million.
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Kimberly Hadaway, a recent graduate of Paulding County High School in Dallas, has had her eyes set on college since she was in elementary school. She knew that her mother, a single parent, would not be able to pay for it, so she started planning early.
As a third grader, she approached Mychal and Nina Wynn, a college planning couple who operates the Foundation for Ensuring Access and Equity's College Planning Cohort Program, for advice.
“Since you know all of this college planning stuff, tell me what I need to do," she said.
With their guidance, she passed 17 AP exams, scored a 33 (out of 36) on the ACT and participated in a ton of leadership and community service activities. Her hard work afforded her full rides to some of the nation’s top institutions including Princeton, Duke, Vanderbilt, Washington and Lee, Amherst, and Williams.
She received offers from Swarthmore, Xavier University of Louisiana, Spelman College, and Howard University, too.
In the fall, Hadaway will be attending Williams College as a mathematics major.
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And her mother, Yvette Ifill, is thrilled.
"I am a native of Guyana who knew nothing about the U.S. public education system. Without the Wynns guidance, the Turner Chapel AME Church's College Planning Cohort, and our small group coach, Mrs. Kim Sackey, this would not have been possible,” she said. “They have held our hand, step-by-step."
