This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, Ashanti Palmer made headlines for her remarkable academic achievement and perfect attendance record.
As the valedictorian of her class at Nellie A. Thornton High School in Mount Vernon, New York, Ashanti graduated with a perfect attendance record spanning over 4,650 days.
Her dedication to education has paid off, with Ashanti being awarded over $430,000 (over KSh 45 million) in scholarships to pursue a biomedical engineering degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
"There were days when I did not feel like going to school, but I knew if I missed a day then you were behind, so I pushed through," Ashanti told Good Morning America.
Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton praised Ashanti's achievements, saying, "Ashanti's achievements in the Mount Vernon schools have been nothing short of remarkable. We strive to ensure our students graduate from here college- and career-ready, and Ashanti is a testament to that goal."
