A South Side teenager who vowed on his first day of high school to become valedictorian has surpassed even his own lofty expectations, collecting more than $8 million in scholarship offers and acceptance letters from 83 colleges.
According to ABC7 Chicago, Aaron Williams, 18, graduated this spring from Bogan High School in the Beverly neighborhood with straight‑A grades and the top spot in his class. During his freshman year, the teen told the principal, “I would be the class of 2025 valedictorian.”
“And now, it’s safe to say I have done that,” Williams said.
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The youngest of seven children, Williams set an additional goal to surpass the $1 million in aid once earned by an older sibling. He did that eight‑fold, piecing together merit awards and institutional grants worth a combined $8 million. “To know that all the hours of me applying for scholarships, and having to log them on school links… paid off in the long run,” he said, crediting a supportive family and school community for guidance through the maze of essays and portals.
His mother, Ericka Smith, called the moment a testament to community. “He is who he is because of community, because of principals who cared, because of biological aunts who cared [and] the nonbiological ones,” she said.
Williams will attend Northern Illinois University this fall on a full scholarship, majoring in electrical engineering. He hopes to repeat his valedictory feat in college.
