A set of identical twins from Milwaukee have been accepted into 37 of the schools they applied to. Arielle and Arianna Williams, who are graduating from Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy at the top of their class with the two highest grade point averages, are also being offered more than $1 million in scholarship money.
“Honestly we were pushing for 40 college acceptances, but we ended up getting like 37. I was like oh man, but we still did good,” Arianna Williams said.
WTMJ-TV reports the sisters are the first members of their family to go to college, and they will graduate with almost no debt. Officials of Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy are also proud of the sisters.
“Arianna and Arielle Williams have set a tremendous example as scholars and citizens for four years,” principal Judith Parker told WDJT-TV. “We couldn’t be more proud of their growth, choices and their ability to persevere with joy in the face of obstacles.
“They have traveled, organized community service projects, met Michelle Obama and represented our school inside of our walls and throughout our city. We are proud of them and the entire Class of 2020 and excited for the next chapter in their lives as they take this same drive to college.”
Arielle and Arianna say even though they faced challenges, they were determined to succeed.
“It’s OK to fail sometimes,” Arianna told WJMT. “You gotta accept your failures. Just come back harder. Do the most! They told us we were doing the most. Do the most and go above and beyond.”
Despite having a lot of options, the Williams sisters have decided to stay close to home and will, therefore, be going to Marquette University to study nursing.