logo
Georgia teen accepted to 155 colleges in all 50 states totaling $6 million in scholarships

Georgia teen accepted to 155 colleges in all 50 states totaling $6 million in scholarships

Yahoo28-03-2025

A graduating senior at Westlake High School in South Fulton County may have set a college acceptance record.
Chase Matthews, a Westlake High student, was accepted at 155 colleges.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
Matthews says she already knows what she wants to do with her education.
'I aspire to become a pharmacist and open a chain of mobile and brick-and-mortar pharmacies,' Matthews told Petersen.
And she'll get the college education she needs, anywhere she wants to.
'First we have the University of Alaska, Fairbanks,' the first of 155 colleges and universities across all 50 states that have sent Matthews an acceptance letter.
'Chase exemplifies excellence,' said Gregory Minnis, Westlake High interim principal.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
Minnis said Matthews always goes above and beyond, carries an 'A' average for her grades and is also a scholar, band member and role model.
'Just hard work, hard work,' said Matthews' college advisor Sean Moore.
All of the schools she was accepted to offered Matthews a 'dollar or two' in scholarships as well, and it all added up.
So far, Matthews said the scholarship offers have totaled a collective $6 million, making her one of the most successful, if not the most successful, scholarship earners in Georgia history.
'It's all for my grandparents and parents,' Matthews said. 'I've seen their struggles with affording medicine as well as accessibility. I want to fix that problem in the Black and low-income communities in Atlanta.'
While Matthews won't get all $6 million, just the amount the school of her choice offered in scholarships, it's sure to provide a full ride. She said she's leaning toward Florida A&M University, Howard University and Ohio State University.
WSB-TV Atlanta contributed to this report.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scoop: Four employees out in shakeup at WURD Radio
Scoop: Four employees out in shakeup at WURD Radio

Axios

time21 minutes ago

  • Axios

Scoop: Four employees out in shakeup at WURD Radio

At least four employees, including one of WURD Radio's top hosts, are being let go as part of what's described internally as a cost-cutting measure, Axios has learned. Why it matters: WURD is the only Black-owned radio station in Pennsylvania, and among only a handful nationwide. The station, founded by the late Walter P. Lomax Jr., broadcast live during last year's presidential campaign from the White House complex — a major get. Driving the news: The layoffs include "Reality Check" host Tonya Pendleton and her lead producer, Troy Wilmore. He had been with the station for 18 years. Pendleton, one of Philly's well-known radio personalities, has led "Reality Check" for the last two years. Content writer Kiara Santos and one other employee were also among those let go. The show won't continue to air, the station's general manager, Ashanti Martin tells Axios. She wouldn't say whether WURD would ever bring back the program. WURD CEO and president Sara Lomax-Reese, the late founder's daughter, wrote in a memo obtained by Axios that the layoffs were meant to "ensure the station's long-term survival." She praised the laid-off staffers' "meaningful contributions to our station, our community and our city." "This decision was not made lightly. As an independent media radio station, it is imperative that we maintain our ability to give Black Philadelphia a voice and a place to make their voices heard," she wrote. What they're saying: The WURD employees affected by the cuts either declined to comment or didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. State of play: The media landscape is shifting, and competition for dwindling advertising revenue is fierce. WURD faced a setback earlier this year, when a conservative health care nonprofit filed a lawsuit alleging the station and one of its partners engaged in reverse racism when it launched a Black doctors directory to help connect people seeking care with physicians of color in the region. Martin tells Axios the cuts were unrelated to the lawsuit. The bottom line: Martin says the radio station is trying to find its footing while dealing with the "erasure of Blackness" from society. "I'm very confident we will survive and thrive," she says. "It's time like this that outlets like WURD are needed more than ever. We want to be around for another 22 years and another 22 after that."

NBA legends team up for HBCU scholarships
NBA legends team up for HBCU scholarships

Miami Herald

time41 minutes ago

  • Miami Herald

NBA legends team up for HBCU scholarships

NBA legends Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade are once again making a powerful assist-this time off the court and in the classroom. Through their nonprofit, the Social Change Fund United, the trio is continuing to support the next generation of changemakers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Founded in 2020, the Social Change Fund United was created by these current and former NBA stars to tackle systemic injustice and advance critical issues affecting the Black community. Now, the organization is reaffirming its commitment by launching its annual scholarship program specifically for HBCU students pursuing business-related degrees. This year, eight students will each receive a $5,000 scholarship. The recipients will be individuals who not only excel in business studies but also demonstrate a deep commitment to social equity, economic empowerment, and community upliftment. Applicants must be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students at an HBCU in a business-related major. But beyond academic credentials, the selection process seeks visionaries. Students are asked to articulate how they plan to use business innovation to drive long-term change for underrepresented communities. From launching social enterprises to reshaping corporate policy from within, the fund wants to empower students who are ready to lead. The initiative by these NBA stars represents more than financial aid. It's about creating pipelines of Black business leaders who are mission-driven and community-oriented. In the words of the founders, true success is about purpose instead of profit. Chris Paul, a longtime advocate for HBCUs and a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, has championed the importance of investing in students at these institutions. He and his co-founders see this scholarship as a way to ensure that access and opportunity go hand in hand. The post NBA legends team up for HBCU scholarships appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025

One Day Of Rugby Taught Me To Stop Chasing Perfection & Start Showing Up
One Day Of Rugby Taught Me To Stop Chasing Perfection & Start Showing Up

Refinery29

time2 hours ago

  • Refinery29

One Day Of Rugby Taught Me To Stop Chasing Perfection & Start Showing Up

I remember growing up when the most popular high school sports for girls were track and field, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, cheerleading and cross-country. But Rugby? It was never even part of the conversation. So when I was asked to participate in an Olympic training experience with the United States women's national rugby sevens team, I didn't hesitate. I was all in. Admittedly, I was nervous. However, that changed the moment I received the roster and recognized not one but two women who looked like me. Two Black women, smiling from ear to ear, standing tall as part of an Olympic history-making team. My anxiousness gave way to curiosity and pride. Rugby has long been perceived as a predominately white sport. A 2020 report by The Guardian found that fewer than 8% of players identified as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background. And if you isolate that figure to solely Black athletes? The percentage drops even lower. With representation so limited, the challenge isn't just physical—it's mental. It's knowing you're one of the few. It's pushing your body to its limits while also carrying the invisible weight of visibility. But it's also a gift to compete, to create space and to reshape the narrative in real time. As two-time Olympian and Bronze medalist Ariana Ramsey reminded me after training during a lunch hosted by Quest Nutrition, "Great and hard work shapes you into the athlete you're meant to be. Your willingness to go to practice every day and be consistent is a life skill you'll always need and use." Those words stuck with me because, as a Black woman athlete, or in my case, a journalist, showing up is only half the battle. It's never just about the game or profession; it's about rewriting what's possible, even when the narrative was never written with us—Black women and many others from historically marginalized backgrounds—in mind. Is it about being seen? Yes, absolutely, but it's also more than that; the older I get, the more I realize it's about making sure the next little brown girl sees herself, too. Being in the center of it all at Chula Vista Elite Training Center, one of the top Olympic training campuses in the country, the game itself challenged every physical limit I thought I knew. It was exciting, yes, but it also sparked something deeper. It created an internal shift from imposter syndrome to embodied power. I began to understand that true strength in all forms isn't just about physical ability. I missed a few kicks. My athleticism definitely didn't kick in the way I hoped. And when it was time to race, did I come in first place? Absolutely not. (laughs) But the real win had nothing to do with numbers. It was in letting go of the mental chains, silencing the inner critic and quieting the outside noise that sometimes held me back (and at times continues to do so) in my everyday life. The silent whispers of discouragement, defeat or doubt. The lingering question of 'What if I'm not enough?' What if things don't go as I planned? "What if I'm not ready or live up to the expectation?" That day, I didn't just show up on the field. I pushed through the noise. And not only did I show up for Dontaira K. Terrell in her full entirety—I proved something to myself and no one else. Even if I didn't make the field goal, land the tackle or run my fastest race—I laughed through it all. No pressure. I was present. I enjoyed the moment. I took what I couldn't do and turned it into a lesson, not a curveball. ' When everyone else seems to be gaining momentum, racking up wins or living their so-called best lives, it can leave you crashing out and wondering, ' What about me?' ' It took time to get here. For so long, I carried the weight of trying to be perfect. To be a winner. To overachieve, no matter the cost. That pressure has caused me more harm than good. But letting go of those limiting beliefs? That was the freedom. Who cared if I didn't catch on as quickly as the person next to me? That was the push I didn't know I needed. If I'm honest, I grew up in a household of excellence. College-educated parents. High-achieving siblings. World travelers. Trophy winners. My older sisters aren't just entrepreneurs and businesswomen—two are attorneys, and one is an audiologist (in fact, the first Black woman to receive a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree in the Midwest). So, as you can imagine, anything less than my best never felt like an option. "Growing up, I worked really hard but didn't immediately see the payout, so it kind of made me feel like what I was doing wasn't worth it," American rugby union player Nia Toliver said, reflecting on the advice she'd give to her younger self. "But when I think about where I am now, it's because of the work I put in. It was a long-term gain—not immediate success." Talk about words that resonated. In today's society—from television to TikTok, Instagram and everything in between it's easy to feel like you're falling behind. When everyone else seems to be gaining momentum, racking up wins or living their so-called best lives, it can leave you crashing out and wondering, ' What about me?' We're in a microwavable culture. Everything looks instant. But real success? Real alignment? It takes time. And that's why I've had to learn to separate the two to put things into perspective. Just as Maya Angelou reminded us: 'All great achievements require time.' That's why I'm adamant about celebrating the small wins. They're the proof of grit, grind and perseverance behind closed doors. The effort you're putting in when no one is watching. When the applause is quiet. When the likes on the 'Gram are few and far between. I know firsthand that those moments are the hardest. It's about reframing the narrative: you don't have to be perfect, but you do have to keep going and keep showing up. After spending the day with the team, when it came time to leave the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, another realization struck me. The roles of coaches, sports psychologists, team nutritionists, personal trainers and the list goes on in rugby mirrored something I've come to understand in my own life: your support system matters just as much as your skill set. If you want to win at anything on the field or in real life, let me tell you, that foundation has to be solid. That encouragement, that accountability, that belief in you when you're doubting yourself? That kind of support is top-tier because no matter how gifted you are, you can't do it alone. To win in this thing called life, both on and off the playing field, you need people who help you stay in the game, even when life is doing the absolute most.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store