At just 18 years old, Aaron Williams has accomplished what most students only dream of. The Chicago native graduated as valedictorian of Bogan High School, earning more than $8 million in scholarships and securing acceptance letters from over 80 colleges and universities across the country.
Williams, who has so far been accepted into 83 institutions—with new offers still arriving—says his success is the result of years of relentless determination, academic discipline, and unwavering community support.
“To know that the hours I spent applying for scholarships, logging onto school portals, putting in effort—it’s relieving to see that it actually paid off in the long run,” Williams told WLBT.
From the very first day of high school, Williams had a clear vision. He approached his principal as a freshman and declared that he would one day graduate at the top of his class. Four years later, he fulfilled that promise—graduating with a perfect academic record.
Williams also carried a personal challenge: to surpass the scholarship total of his older brother, who earned $1 million in aid. That friendly sibling rivalry only fueled his ambition.
“It kind of pushed me harder,” he said. “You know how siblings have that rivalry to see who can do better? It motivated me to see just how far I could take it.”
This fall, Williams will attend Northern Illinois University on a full scholarship, where he plans to major in electrical engineering. His goal? To once again graduate as a valedictorian this time, at the college level.
His mother, Ericka Smith, attributes his extraordinary success not only to his drive but to the community that surrounded and uplifted him.
“He is who he is because of community—because of principals who cared, because of those biological aunts that cared, and the non-biological ones too,” she said.
Williams’ story is more than a tale of academic excellence—it’s a testament to what’s possible when determination meets opportunity, and when a young person is surrounded by people who believe in their potential.
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