A 13-year-old from Oklahoma has made history as the youngest Black student to graduate college.
On Saturday, Elijah Muhammad graduated from Oklahoma City Community College. Having enrolled in August 2020, the teen now holds his Associate degree in computer science and cybersecurity. Muhammad is already making plans for his Bachelor’s degree, currently enrolled at Ohio State University, where he is continuing his studies in cybersecurity and forensics.
“It’s just an amazing feeling,” the bright young man told The Oklahoman.
As the Muhammad household celebrates Elijah’s accomplishment, they are also elated over the other scholars they’ve raised. At just 15 years old, his older sister, Shania, has earned her Bachelor’s in family consumer sciences from Langston University, making her the school’s youngest Bachelor’s graduate on record. She walked across the stage alongside their other older siblings, 21-year-old Rashay Muhammad and another 19-year-old brother who is also named Elijah Muhammad Jr. The fifth sibling in the family, also named Elijah Muhammad, 17, has decided to enlist early into the Army after graduating from Thunderbird Youth Challenge military academy. The many Elijahs are all named after their father.
The elder Elijah explained that he and his wife, Atashia, created a household where education was strongly valued and glorified. He is dedicated to being their biggest cheerleader whenever his kids reach an academic milestone.
“We’re going to go out to eat; we’re going to get ice cream. We’re going to buy clothes. We’re going to do everything based on that,” he explained.
All of the Muhammed children are determined to obtain their doctorate degrees like their mother, who works as an assistant professor at Langston.
