145 Southland College Prep Graduates Achieve Full College Scholarships for the 12th Consecutive Year

145 Southland College Prep Seniors Secured Full College Scholarships for 12th Consecutive Year

RICHTON PARK, Ill. – Southland College Prep Charter High School has reached a remarkable milestone, celebrating its 12th consecutive year where every graduate in its senior class has received college scholarship offers. This year’s graduating class of 2025, comprising 145 students, gathered at the Harris Theater with family, educators, and community members to commemorate their accomplishments and prepare for the next phase of their academic journeys.

The event was marked by a palpable sense of pride and celebration as relatives beamed with joy. Geraldine Franklin, who attended the graduation ceremony to support her granddaughter Julia—serving as the senior class president—expressed her heartfelt emotions. “There is a stigma thinking that Black students can’t achieve, but seeing a school where 100% of students, the majority of whom are Black, are heading to top universities truly warms my heart,” Franklin stated, underscoring the importance of these achievements within the context of broader societal narratives.

Collectively, the Class of 2025 has secured scholarship offers exceeding million. Notably, 40 percent of the graduates received full-ride scholarships, and at least two students were offered more than million each from prestigious universities. Such figures illustrate not only the academic prowess of Southland College Prep students but also the investment that higher education institutions are making in these promising young scholars.

The journey to graduation has not been without challenges, as some students reflected on their transformative experiences. One graduate shared candid thoughts on his past behavioral struggles and the positive impact that Southland had on him, stating, “I was a bad kid, did a lot of acting up. Southland really shaped me up.” This sentiment was echoed by Southland College Prep CEO, Blondean Davis, who emphasized the school’s mission. “You can learn from any environment, you just have to put forth the effort. It’s not solely academics that we teach; we instill a mindset and determination in our students,” Davis remarked.

Since its inception, Southland College Prep has made significant strides, amassing over 0 million in scholarship offers for its graduates over the years. This achievement reflects both the dedication of the school’s faculty and the resilience of its students, contributing to a narrative of hope and success that resonates deeply within the community. As these graduates embark on their next chapter, their stories serve to inspire not only their peers at Southland but also aspiring students across the nation.