After making use of to 24 faculties, highschool senior Gahmoto Malangalila obtained greater than $1 million in scholarships, together with a number of full rides.
AUSTIN, Texas — Flipping via his 24 faculty admission letters, LBJ Excessive College senior Gahmoto Malangalila was ecstatic to see that 22 of them learn “congratulations” on the high.
Much more shocking was the greater than $1 million in scholarships he has obtained, incomes him a nickname on campus: “Cash Man Moto”.
“It was superb,” Malangalila stated. “I felt like I used to be on high of the world.”
However Malangalila’s friends and mentors stated they weren’t stunned to listen to about his success.
“I’m happy with him. I knew it was coming although,” stated Ray Jackson, an LBJ graduate who now works on the faculty and is certainly one of Malangalila’s mentors. “He exemplifies every thing the varsity was constructed on: the intelligence, the training, the athleticism, being well-rounded.”
Throughout his time at LBJ, Malangalila racked up a 4.35 GPA, performed a number of sports activities and was concerned in a number of golf equipment, together with basketball, tennis, golf, monitor, baseball, soccer and marching band.
He additionally participated in extracurriculars outdoors of college, just like the Management Improvement Institute with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity integrated.
Malangalila determined he needed to observe his sister’s footsteps after she obtained a full experience to school.
“I’ve all the time recognized that I didn’t wish to must pay for my training or be strapped with the monetary burden that usually comes with increased training,” Malangalila stated.
After sorting via dozens of acceptance letters, Malangalila selected attending Southern College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the place he was provided a full experience to review electrical engineering.
“I selected engineering as a result of general, long-term, I wish to assist the planet and the folks in it, and I imagine expertise is one of the best ways to try this,” Malangalila stated.
Whereas he is excited for the subsequent journey, Jackson stated everybody at LBJ will really feel Malangalila’s absence.
“When you could have this sort of younger man depart, it leaves a void,” Jackson stated. “I’m simply proud to be part of his life and, you understand, be related to Moto.”
Jackson stated when he first met “Moto,” he was shy. However in his 4 years in highschool, the senior has grown into someone folks look as much as, who’s all the time searching for others. He even recollects Malangalila beginning a snack enterprise and donating the cash to the basketball program and different campus departments.
Malangalila hopes his ambition could be an instance to others, like his sister was to him.
“I simply wish to encourage college students not solely at LBJ, however Black and brown children throughout the nation,” Malangalila stated. “Something is feasible, actually, so long as they work exhausting and simply take it day-to-day.”
As for what’s subsequent after faculty for “Cash Man Moto,” Jackson stated the sky is the restrict.
“The boy’s a genius,” Jackson stated. “We’re all going to finish working for him at some point.”
Malangalila needs to thank his mother and father, his sister and all his mentors who’ve helped him via his highschool profession.
