BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Schools Superintendent Larry James and the Board of Education on Monday recognized Martin County High School senior EJ Harless for earning a QuestBridge Scholarship. This highly competitive award provides him with a full ride to Duke University and marks a first for the school.

“It’s a nonprofit that matches high-achieving high school students with top colleges across the country,” Harless said of QuestBridge.

“They have 50 college partners, and I ranked 15 schools. I matched for a full ride with my fifth option. It was Harvard, Princeton, Yale, schools like that, and I got into Duke. They have a 6% acceptance rate.”

Board member James Bowie Clark praised the achievement during the meeting.

“It’s not pretty awesome; it’s completely awesome,” Clark said.

Harless plans to major in economics and will relocate to North Carolina for his studies.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Going to move to North Carolina.”