Shalom Akolatse
Stamps 1693 Scholar
Hometown
Belle Chasse, LA (Belle Chasse HS)
Academic Interests
Math, Computer Science, Biology and Chemistry
Why W&M
My college admissions story, like so many things in life, wasn't linear but rather circular. When I moved to Williamsburg in the middle of 3rd grade, I had small encounters with William & Mary and its small but vibrant world. I'd have piano recitals and competitions in Ewell Hall, several members of my church were W&M alumni, and I'd often walk around in the nearby Colonial Williamsburg with my family.
I eventually moved away from Williamsburg, but my parents and I kept William & Mary in the back of our minds. When it came time for applying to colleges, W&M was an instant shoo-in for potential schools. As we kept exploring, however, several different schools all throughout the country seemed to catch our attention far more, and William & Mary started to fade into the background.
That is, until I got an email notifying me that I was a semifinalist for the 1693 scholarship, and the prospect of William & Mary flared back into life. When I visited campus, I was astounded at how much love seemed to radiate from all the scholars, and everyone I saw on campus seemed to love being there. Furthermore, the sheer amount of research that lined the walls of nearly every academic building on campus unlocked an interest that I didn't even know I had. When I got the call that I was accepted as a 1693 Scholar, there was simply no choice - the school that had filled the background of my childhood days would become the foreground of my time as an undergraduate student.
W&M Activities
- Inaugural Copy Editor, Black Poets Society
- Core Team Member, Google Developer Student Club
- Quantitative Analyst, DisinfoLab
- African Cultural Society, General Body Member
High School Activities
- ROTC for 2 years
- Playing piano for local church
- Math Tutor
- Robotics coder
- Hobbyist coder + Minecraft modder
Awards / Distinctions
- 2022 Belle Chasse High School Student of the Year
- Belle Chasse High School Class of 2022 Salutatorian
- Coronado 2019 Optimist Awardee
- AP Scholar with Distinction
- 2020 Manim Community Hackathon 3rd place
