Elijah Precciely, a Baton Rouge native, is the university’s youngest full-ride scholarship recipient.
This 14-year-old genius is attempting to study everything he can while preparing for his last semesters at the HBCU.
“You have to have a mindset to actually know, ‘Hey, I have to learn this, my life depends on it,’” Precciely told ABC News. “Act like your life depends on it because it does. When you learn, you increase your life.”
According to WAFB, the famed kid genius, who is now a junior at Southern, was home-schooled by his mother while taking college-level biology, physics, and business courses at the age of eight.
He was accepted into Southern University’s Honors College before the age of 11 and began his studies as a full-time student in the 2019 spring semester. Even a J.S. was bestowed upon him the Clark Presidential Scholar Award is given to a student who has excelled academically
Precciely’s interests go beyond his studies as a double major in physics and chemical engineering. He’s had a weekly radio show and been featured in a number of national publications, including a special on Cartoon Network. A Prodigy, My Secrets (2021) and Mission Christian: God’s Got Firsts! Coloring Book Edition: Coloring Book Edition: Coloring (2018).
In addition, the teenager is an innovator at heart, breaking records and making history. For his inventions, he has already applied for more than five patents.
“I don’t look for just breaking records; I look for changing lives. And in that, I will break records,” he said, according to WBRZ.
“My first priority is to be a shining light to help others, and the second priority is to make sure that I help people like me and people who want to connect with me.”
Elijah made headlines in May 2018 when he was admitted to Southern University on a full scholarship for the first time in history. Elijah J.D Precciely Enterprise Inc., which focuses on education, innovation, ministry work, and entrepreneurship for young talents, was founded the same year.
Elijah Precciely began taking business, biology, and physics courses at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when he was eight years old. Three years later, in 2018, he became the university’s youngest full-time student, getting a full-ride scholarship, when he turned 11 years old.
Elijah first started making his own inventions at an early age. He already knew what he wanted in life. He told a local station, “You have to have your mindset, ‘Oh I have to learn this.’ You have to have a mindset to actually know, ‘hey, I have to learn this; my life depends on it’. Act like your life depends on it because it does. When you learn, you’ve increased your life.”
Elijah is a published author, runs his own weekly radio show, and has applied for more than five patents for his innovations in addition to creating history as a young college student.
His second book, ‘A Prodigy, My Story at Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Year One,’ will be released in March and chronicles his first year as a full-time student at an HBCU.
