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DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Tristen Ellis, a senior at Dublin High School, has earned more than $1.3 million in merit-based scholarships and received acceptance letters from 60 colleges and universities across the country.
Ellis says he was shocked when he first realized the amount of scholarship money he had earned.
“It was very overwhelming at first,” he said Tuesday. “Like, so many colleges were willing to pour funds into me, because I worked so hard throughout my schooling and it was just a lot. And I just couldn’t believe it when I was tallying it up. And it just showed to me that other people can do it too, and I just want them to see this story and be like… ‘Wow, I can go get two million, three million.’ And so much more—never limit yourself.”
Despite having many colleges to choose from, Ellis says only one made him feel at home.
“The University of Georgia,” he said. “That’s the one that stood out to me. Because, when I went on campus for the first time, I could just feel the family environment. I felt very similar to what I feel here at Dublin High School. Everybody was just so caring, and they wanted to help, and I wasn’t a student yet.”
He also shared advice for other high school students pursuing their goals.
“If you haven’t been taking it serious in the past, it’s never too late to take it serious now,” he said. “What you do today can follow you for the rest of your life, so set yourself up for success now rather than waiting for later and try to go back and fix what was in the past, because it’s gonna be so hard. I would rather you have fun later on in life and work hard now, than have fun now and have to work hard later… that’s just how I look at it.”
Jessica Lemon, 10th and 12th grade counselor at Dublin High School, says Ellis is a perfect example of what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it and work hard.
“He spoke everything he has into existence, so to let them know no matter where you may be currently, to keep trying,” she said. “To keep working hard, to keep reaching for your goals. Because last year he was top ten, and he wanted to achieve all these goals. And he just doubled down, worked hard and got there.”
Ben Lanier, CEO of the College and Career Academy, says Ellis is proving stereotypes wrong.
“I’m just so proud, especially as a young Black man, to show that we don’t have to be defined by x, y, z,” he said. “I can take advantage of all these opportunities that are available to me. And I can create my own success, I can create my own legacy. And at eighteen years old, he’s already created that for himself.”
While in Athens, Tristen will major in biology on the pre-med track. He plans to enroll in the Double Dawgs program, allowing him to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in epidemiology within five years.
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