Off to Harvard!

Name: Achunike Okafor

Age: 18

High School: Science Park High School (Newark, NJ)

College: Harvard University

Achunike Okafor is a prime example of Newark’s excellence. He began his freshman year this fall at Harvard University, one of the country’s most prestigious Ivy League universities, after graduating from Newark’s Science Park High School with the highest GPA in the school district’s history. He was offered admission and scholarships to more than 40 schools prior to choosing Harvard, where he is studying neuroscience and film on a full scholarship.

Okafor dedicated his high school years to working hard and studying for at least seven hours every night, gaining him a 4.625 GPA at the time of graduation. He says that his goal was just to make it into college and was very shocked at the honor of having the highest GPA in the school district. He attributes his drive and goal setting to his father, an Algebra teacher, who taught him the importance of a college degree and hard work.

While in high school, Okafor participated in the International Baccalaureate program, which is a program designed to improve the world through education. He was also in the Audible Future Leaders program, which is a paid internship and college scholarship program available to Newark high school students. Okafor credits these programs for teaching him valuable time management skills that helped him balance school and social life.

When asked what advice he would have for students looking to achieve some of the same things he did, Okafor says, “Start early and work really hard because you may think you have time, and that’s not the case. Everything you do from freshman year and up, colleges are watching you”

Okafor told NJ.com, “A lot of people from here become successful and never look back. That isn’t how I want my story to end. I want to come back and serve Newark to the best of my ability.” dN

—Kayla Cole