Viral: New Orleans HS athlete has record $9M in scholarships
NEW ORLEANS (BVM) 鈥� Dennis Maliq Barnes has broken a US history record after receiving over $9 million in college academic scholarship offers. The senior at International High School of New Orleans (LA) accomplished the impressive feat while balancing his time with the basketball team. He鈥檚 also tried football and track and field.聽
鈥淭o be able to set the standard and say, as a Black man, I could do more than dribble a ball, I could do more than throw a football or run the fastest 鈥� to say that we are mentally and academically capable of surpassing expectations, it’s something that I feel good to be leading in right now,鈥�
The $9 million and counting is a new national record 鈥� The previous record was held on to by 鈥� who also received about $9 million in 2019.聽
The news you won't see on major TV networks
Black high schooler聽from New Orleans breaks US record with 125 college offers, $9M in scholarships via academics, not sports
Dennis Barnes attends the聽International High School of New Orleans
Congrats
— Voice Of Our Ancestors Channel (@VoiceOfOurAnces)
The news surrounding Barnes has gone viral and was picked up by major news outlets. It was also shared by . There are tons of congratulatory comments and even jokes from people saying that he spent at least a million dollars on those notorious application fees.
Barnes was accepted into over (most of them are full rides).聽聽
Notably, he’s only 16 years old. He has a and was also dual enrolled at Southern University — which is why he鈥檚 able to graduate high school in only two years.
The Class of 2023 graduate will announce his big decision on May 2. Although his athletic career is over, he has a bright future at an Ivy League, HBCU or really any school of his choosing. In a statement released by his school, Barnes said he plans to pursue a dual degree in computer science and criminal justice.聽