Eriifeoluwa Adelusimo - Bentonville High School

Eriifeoluwa Adelusimo, a student at Bentonville High School, has been nominated to be an Academic All-Star by Post-Secondary Advisor Alice Haney. “Eriife is the type of student that every teacher wants a classroom full of,” noted Haney. “She is talkative and engaging, she is considerate and friendly, and she thinks critically and speaks her mind.”

Eriife has a weighted GPA of 4.3 and an ACT score of 34. She has completed advanced coursework in nine Advanced Placement courses, as well as four International Baccalaureate courses, including AP Biology, AP World History, AP U.S. History, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics I, AP Spanish Language, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP Statistics. Eriife was admitted to every school she applied to, including Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, NYU, Northwestern, Tulane, Rochester, Fordham, UNC, Kansas, American, Arkansas, Columbia, and University of Texas-Dallas. She has not finalized her choice yet, but is deciding between Columbia University and the University of Texas-Dallas.

“Eriife is no doubt, an outstanding student,” added Haney. “She excels academically in even the most rigorous AP and IB courses we offer at BHS. But what sets her apart is her demeanor. Her confidence. Her gift of communicating. She has a work ethic and determination like few others. She is devoted to progress and to improving our school and our community. She volunteers extensively, she is involved all over campus, and she is every definition of a leader.”

Eriife has extensive involvement in her community and school including National Honor Society (President), Spanish Club (President) and Spanish Honor Society (Treasurer), Mercy Hospital Volunteer (Summer 2016), Student Council Representative, BHS Debate Team, Make A Difference Youth Foundation (Director), Class Representative, and Chapel of Praise Youth Group (2014-present). In addition to her community service, Eriife has received many honors and awards including Arkansas Biliteracy Award, NSDA-National Speech & Debate Association (Degrees of Merit, Honor, Excellence & Distinction), AP Scholar with Distinction, Bentonville High School Outstanding Citizenship Award (five times), and National Honor Society & Spanish Honor Society.

“For me, academic excellence has been a testament to the people I am surrounded by,” stated Eriife. “From my first years in the Bentonville School District, my teachers saw potential in me and made sure I didn’t let it go to waste.” Several teachers have had a big impact on Eriife’s education over the years, including her fourth grade teacher Mrs. Hill, her TREC (the gifted and talented program) teachers Mrs. Smart and Mrs. Whitfield, as well as her AP World History Class teacher Mrs. Evans. “The greatest motivation in my academic pursuits, however, came from my parents who left behind their entire families in Nigeria with a two-year-old child in tow hoping to give me and my two younger brothers a chance at a better future,” noted Eriife.

“Each of these people, and many that I have not mentioned, have done their part in enabling me to get excellent grades, become president of both Spanish Club and National Honor Society, create an organization advocating for safer schools, win several national tournaments in debate, and get into amazing colleges like Columbia University and Cornell University,” added Eriife. “You owe it to the people who pour into you to do well.”