Teen born with heart condition gets accepted to over 40 colleges with $1.6 million in scholarships

Regis Harris’ mother said she was informed her son would be developmentally delayed because of a heart condition he was born with, but the high school senior and Douglas County teen has since defied all odds and evolved into an excellent student. 

The Chapel Hill High senior also recently displayed his academic prowess after he got accepted to more than 40 colleges and universities and received $1.6 million in scholarships. The scholarship offers Harris has received also mean he wouldn’t have to foot any bills for his college or university education. 

In an interview with Atlanta News First, the 17-year-old student said he never envisaged being offered admission by several schools. “I’m so blessed to have this opportunity,” Harris said. “There were several schools at the top of my list.”

The University of Georgia (UGA) and the University of Southern California (USC) are among the schools that have offered the teen admission. “It was a lot of sacrifices,” said the straight-A student. “There were a lot of nights I stayed up studying all night long.”

Though Harris takes his studies seriously, he also has time for extracurricular activities, he is a member of the school band, chess club, varsity track team, and National Honor Society. He is also a member of his church choir and has a part-time job.

“The hardest part for me was that I balanced staying on top of work but also that I maintained being a well-rounded person,” he said.

The teen had to undergo open heart surgery just two days after his birth. His parents said they’re proud of his journey. “The doctors told me he would be developmentally delayed,” the teen’s mother, Kia Harris, told Atlanta News First. “They even stated that he might have to have heart surgery again. He is our miracle.”

Harris said he intends to pursue a course in biology (pre-med) at North Carolina A&T. He hopes to become a psychiatrist. “I’m looking forward to being able to adapt, to expand my mind, my learning and I can’t wait,” the academically gifted student said.