National News May 29, 2024Black Teen From Louisiana Named Valedictorian and Receives Nearly $1M in Scholarships From 13 Colleges Cur’Dericka Rice, a 17-year-old African American girl from Monroe, Louisiana, graduated valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a remarkable 33 on her ACT. What’s more, she earned nearly $1 million in scholarships from 13 universities.