A young African-American girl named Shanelle Davis has emerged as the first-ever black valedictorian of Benjamin Cardozo High School in the United States. She was also awarded a full scholarship to Harvard University, Massachusetts in the United States.
Shanelle, a Jamaican emerged as the valedictorian out of 845 students in the 2014 graduating class at Benjamin Cardozo High School, New York in the United States. She also made history as the first-ever black valedictorian in the school’s history.
Her outstanding performance earned her a full scholarship to study for her bachelor’s degree at the prestigious Harvard University, in the United States. She also won the Milken Scholarship and made history as the first in her family to attend a four-year university.
Shanelle said that she hopes to inspire future African-American seniors at her school to add more black students’ names to the list. In an interview with the newspaper, she recalled that her parents instilled in her the importance of education.
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“It’s an incredible honor. It’s still surreal to me. I can be an example for them… So maybe next year they’ll have another African-American one,” she said.
Aside from being an excellent academic student, She also participated in extracurricular activities. Shanelle was a member of her school’s track team and has participated in various clubs.
Shanelle stated that she took seven Advanced Placement classes, and is a member of the school’s National Honor Society and the Gateway Pre-College Education program. She also assisted struggling elementary and middle school students prepare for state exams through Future Educators of New York.
Shanelle is also involved in the academic enrichment organization Legal Outreach, through which she has participated in debates and interned at law firms in New York City. Reflecting on the importance of her achievements, she said it is not only for herself but for her ambitious family.
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