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As you may recall, Autum Ashante is the remarkable 13-year-old we covered recently after being accepted to the University of Connecticut. The Daily News now reports that the university has rescinded their offer of enrollment leaving the Ashante family devastated. After two weeks of basking in the glow of her achievement, Autum and her father now have to figure out what's next for the young genius.
Autum was on track to relocate to Connecticut and start freshman year of college, the culmination of hard work and encouragement from her father, Ben Ashante,who home-schooled the young lady. Last week in the Daily News he was quoted as having said "What she's doing is groundbreaking but this is not about vanity," he said. "It's about setting the tone for other black and Latino children who will come behind her. They're always being told they are underachievers. We want to show this can be done."
Now Autum's dream has been put on hold, after Ben Ashante received a call from school officials who said they felt Autumn was not academically ready. He said his daughter was "devastated" after she received the news and can find no basis for the decision.
Autum and her dad remain undaunted by this turn of events, and are going to continue planning a move to Connecticut to look into other options.
Comments: (50)
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By: Judy on 7/05/2011 7:43PM
Perhaps she and the parents spent too much time ,"basking," as the write up said. She is too young for college. She needs to get some summer job down at McDonalds or KFC and get some life experiences. God bless America.
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By: rasil on 7/06/2011 6:16AM
"She needs to get some summer job down at McDonalds...Life experience." You obviously have no education yourself or understand how geniuses think or operate. This child is an anomaly...get it! Would you have given the same recommendation for a White genius? Don't think so. There have been numerous Whites who have been accepted in college at early ages. You are worse than the university that rejected her. Shame on you for having such a narrow mind and view of success.
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By: Eugene on 7/06/2011 8:22AM
There is an expression that where one door closes another opens.
With such bad publicity now on the University of Connecticut it would not surprise me if Yale University (which is also in Connecticut) offered her a full scholarship to attend their university.
A degree from Yale would open up many more doors to opprtunities for Autum than a degree from the University of Connecticut ever would.
To Autum and your family keep your heads up.
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By: Big al on 7/06/2011 2:05PM
No, she doesn't need to work at any fast food joint if she doesn't need to. She should continue on her path & her destiny. This young lady is gifted & apparently has set high goals for her self, not like the "UNDER ACHIEVER WHO RECOMMENDED THAT SHE GO WORK IN MCDONALD'S TO GET SOME LIFE EXPERIENCES. GIVE ME A BREAK - WHAT A DUMB SUGGESTION.
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By: Justifyed on 7/06/2011 7:07PM
I think maybe she should attend Spelman.
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By: mzjanuary205 on 7/07/2011 11:38AM
Someone like you would probably feel threatened if she DID work at McDonald's, which would mean she would end up as the manager and fire your ignorant ass.
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By: Salena on 7/12/2011 4:35PM
Summer job at Mcdaonalds or KFC...are you serious...Is she scored what she needed to score to pass test and graduate then she earned her spot in college. How are you to say she's not ready for college. Why watse time working useless jobs when she can be on track for her Master's degree or MBA? I hope another college picks her up and makes University of Connecticut eat there words....smh...mcdonalds..some people just like to speak for the sake of speaking.
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By: Perspectives on 7/05/2011 9:20PM
How did she get accepted and then the offer be removed because they felt she wasnt ready? Hmm interesting.
http://www.perspectivestv.com
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By: Leonora on 7/05/2011 9:33PM
Judy, are you serious? Clearly you don't have any children. She's 13 and is not old enough to work. She must be 14 to get working papers. And being accepted to college at 13 years is an extraordinary accomplishment. She's not too young to have basked in that accomplishment. She's a child prodigy, where else is intellilect going to be challenged? I hate when people pick on the kids. Leave them alone.
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By: Leonora on 7/05/2011 9:35PM
correction - *where else is her...
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