African-American Quadruplets Make History with Acceptance into Harvard, Yale

Ohio-based African-American quadruplet brothers Aaron, Nick, Nigel, and Zachary Wade have become a media sensation, following their acceptance in to elite universities Harvard and Yale.

In addition to the prestigious Ivy League universities Harvard and Yale, the Wades were accepted in to Stanford, Georgetown, John Hopkins, and Cornell universities, according to CBS.

The brothers, who live in a Cincinnati suburb, are high-achieving school seniors at Lakota East High School in Butler County, Ohio. Their father, Darrin, is an electrical engineer, and their mother, Kim, is a junior high school principal.

In an interview with NBC, the boys credit the combined influence of their parents and teachers with grooming them into focused and successful young men.

“It’s really something we couldn’t have done on our own without all the support we have had through our lives,” Nick said.

“I was just stunned. I was speechless because I didn’t think, I couldn’t believe that it was actually happening and I actually got in,” Nigel said.

Suzanna Davies, their principal at Lakota East, said she watched the Wade boys grow over the years into the Ivy League candidates that they have become, “They have thrived academically, but they have found their own interests.”

She also describes the boys as well-rounded individuals who play sports, including football and soccer.  Indeed, they were on the school’s track field when they first got word of their admission to Harvard.

Davies says she has no doubt that they will all turn out as great men, “The mark that these four brothers leave on our school will be felt for years to come. I can’t wait to see what comes next with their story.”

The quadruplets say the secret to their academic success lies in taking an active interest in the course or learning material. In fact, with their lowest grades being a B, their Father hasn’t checked their grades since 3rd grade.

“It’s not so much about, you know, the numbers as it is, I’m going to, you know, try and actively learn this,” Aaron said, adding, “And I feel like that’s been the goal for all of us, is to be active learners, not just, you know, grade chasers.”

Their mother told CNN that she brought them up with an understanding that there is no limit to what they could achieve if they put their heart in to it.

“We always tell them you have too many God-given talents to not be successful.

“I tell my sons — but I would tell anyone — we have to find a way for our kids to have ownership for their learning. You are here for a reason; you have to work hard for your dreams.

“Figure out where you want to be in 18 to 20 years. Once you have that idea, and it will change along the way for sure, but it will take hard work for you to get there, you have to have ownership.”