Congrats to Southwest High School senior Alexander Glaze on "Beat the Odds" Scholarship

From Minneapolis Public Schools:

Southwest High School senior Alexander Glaze on March 11 was awarded a $4,000 “Beat the Odds” scholarship from Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) –Minnesota.

Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak accompanied Glaze to the awards event, held at The Depot in Minneapolis, where he was one of four students chosen from almost 100 applicants across the Twin Cities.

CDF – Minnesota recognizes four local teens annually who have overcome extreme adversity including painful family separation, poverty, illness, loss of family and abuse to succeed in school and life. Glaze’s high school counselor, Mary Morseth, who nominated him for the award, said, “In my 30 years as an educator, Alex is one of the most outstanding students I have ever known.”

Glaze has dealt with family addiction, rejection and homelessness but has managed to become a leader and scholar. He and his twin sister were removed from their mother’s home when they were eight years old due to her addiction. Their father was granted custody, but, in Glaze’s words, “My father never really cared about me.” His mother died from a drug overdose when he was in ninth grade. “Although my mother was an addict,” Glaze said, “she supplied me with more love and care than I could have asked for.”

Glaze has worked part-time to provide for his own food and clothing since he was in ninth grade. On his eighteenth birthday, his father asked Glaze and his sister to leave and never return. A family friend took them in, allowing them to stay in school.

“Although my life has been filled with adversity, in my opinion, it has made me a better person,” Glaze said. “I learned early on that hard work in high school would be the only way I could improve my situation. I made up my mind that I would try to get the best grades I could, no matter what.”

With a 3.5 GPA and a 30 on his ACT, Glaze’s hard work has paid off. He has taken numerous advanced courses, been involved with student government, played football and was nominated twice to attend the national Youth Leadership Council. Glaze is applying to Stanford and the University of Wisconsin – Madison and has an upcoming interview at Harvard. After college, he plans to attend graduate school or law school. Glaze will be the first person in his family to attend college.