Teen Reacts Who Went Viral After College Acceptance Learns He Earned A Full-Ride College Scholarship

A Pennsylvania teen who went viral for his reaction to being accepted into college will graduate high school on Saturday — and his entire college tuition has already been paid for.

Amir Staten, 17, of Philadelphia gained national attention in February when he sprinted down a street, crying and yelling in joy after learning he was accepted into Morehouse College, an all-male historically black university in Atlanta.

A few months later, the soon-to-be high school graduate learned that he had also earned a four-year, full-ride scholarship to Morehouse.

In a video shared by his mom Karlynne Staten, Amir can be seen crying in disbelief after learning via email that he had been named one of 15 Bonner Scholars, a community service-focused scholarship program.

“You don’t have to pay for college,” Amir can be heard telling his mom in the video.

Amir Staten, 17, reacts to learning he is the recipient of a full-ride Bonner Scholars scholarship at Morehouse College.Courtesy Karlynne Staten

Staten told “Good Morning America” that Amir went “above and beyond” during his high school years, maintaining honor roll grades while also being captain of the basketball team and head of his school’s Black Student Union.

He also completed over 120 hours of community service, according to Staten.

“He has gone above and beyond of what is expected of him,” she said. “Now he can kind of breathe easy.”

Amir Staten, 17, reacts to learning he is the recipient of a full-ride Bonner Scholars scholarship at Morehouse College.Courtesy Karlynne Staten

Staten said she can also breathe easier now that her son’s college tuition is covered in full. The total estimated cost for attending Morehouse is just over $51,000 per year, according to the school’s website.

“He has a twin sister and I also foster a young boy who is one of Amir’s friends,” Staten said. “I have been working three or four jobs for the last four or five years so I could try to save up and maintain a household and still have some type of funding [for their college degrees].”

Amir Staten hugs his mom Karlynne Staten after learning he earned a scholarship to Morehouse College.Courtesy Karlynne Staten

As a Bonner Scholar at Morehouse, Amir will have to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average and complete around 10 hours of community service per week. During his senior year, Amir and his fellow scholars will travel to the Dominican Republic to work abroad in an orphanage, according to Kevin Booker, vice president for student services and dean of Morehouse College.