High school senior receives 170 college offers, $9 million in scholarships
A senior in New Orleans is inspiring students across the country as he shattered a record.
Dennis Barnes, who's 16 years old and is graduating high school two years early, has 170 college offers and $9 million in scholarships.
That's more than any other college-bound senior in U.S. history. He is a senior at . He has thanked his teachers and family for their support. He said he's not done yet. He's hoping to secure even more scholarships and college offers.
"I'm elated at the moment. This is something I would have never thought I would have accomplished," Barnes said. "My counselor saw something in me that pushed me to exceed expectations.
Barnes told CNN that he wasn't initially planning to set any records.
"As I applied to more schools, as my numbers went up, with the financial aid and acceptances into universities, I became intrigued," Barnes said, adding that when he was told he was close to the record, he "just went for it."
Barnes said he began applying to schools in August 2022 and took pride in watching the acceptances and scholarships roll in. "It was never really a surprise for me once I reached that number," Barnes said.
School officials say Barnes' accomplishment sets a new world record and have reached out to the Guinness Book of World Records to make it official, according to Clark Castle, a spokesman for the school and Barnes.
CNN reached out to The Guinness Book of World Records for comment.
Barnes has a 4.98 GPA and is graduating two years early and hasn't decided which school he will attend in the fall.
"I don't know where I want to go," Barnes said, but added, "I intend to pursue computer science," and then go to law school.
Barnes credits his family and friends and faith in God for his accomplishments.
"I am a God-fearing young man; I keep God first," he said.
School leaders said that more decision responses are still coming in from other schools. His goal is to reach $10 million in offered scholarships by the end of the month.
He plans to announce his final decision in early May before graduating on May 24 and wants to pursue a dual undergraduate degree in computer science and criminal justice.
And for those coming behind him, Barnes had some advice, "If you keep your school, your education a priority and keep God in the mix, then you are definitely going to be successful no matter what you do."
CNN contributed to this report.
