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Casa Grande Today
By the People, for the People
Arizona High School Senior Earns $2.7 Million in Scholarships
Anthony Ilk will be the first in his family to attend college.
Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:25am
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A visual celebration of the academic achievements that can open doors to a brighter future.Casa Grande TodayAn Arizona high school senior named Anthony Ilk has been awarded nearly $3 million in scholarships and will be the first in his family to attend college. Ilk, a student at ASU Preparatory Academy in Casa Grande, applied to 37 colleges and was accepted to almost all of them. His English teacher and mentor, Drew Sullivan, praised Ilk's resilience, perseverance, and motivation throughout the college application process.
Why it matters
Ilk's remarkable achievement of earning $2.7 million in scholarships highlights the transformative power of education and the importance of supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds to access higher learning. His story inspires others and demonstrates that hard work and determination can lead to life-changing opportunities, even for those who may not have a family history of college attendance.
The details
Anthony Ilk, a high school senior, applied to 37 colleges and was accepted to almost all of them. He was awarded a total of $2.7 million in scholarships, many of which are full-ride offers. Ilk's best subject is history, and he has focused on academics for the past four years. His English teacher and mentor, Drew Sullivan, has worked closely with Ilk during the college application process and praised his resilience, perseverance, and motivation.
- Ilk started applying to colleges in September when Arizona State University (ASU) was the first school he applied to.
- Ilk will be attending ASU in the fall, becoming the first in his family to attend college.
The players
Anthony Ilk
A high school senior at ASU Preparatory Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, who was awarded $2.7 million in scholarships and will be the first in his family to attend college.
Drew Sullivan
Ilk's English teacher and mentor, who has worked closely with him during the college application process and praised his resilience, perseverance, and motivation.
What they’re saying
“It's been good. Stressful, but it's been a good experience so far.”
— Anthony Ilk, High School Senior
“He's taught me resilience, perseverance and the grit it takes to make a difference in this world.”
— Drew Sullivan, English Teacher and Mentor
“It's hard to put into words because he has been one of a kind and I haven't had a student like him ever. I'm going to miss him next year, but I know clearly he's capable of amazing things and he'll be successful wherever he chooses to go.”
— Drew Sullivan, English Teacher and Mentor
What’s next
Ilk plans to attend Arizona State University in the fall, where he will be the first in his family to attend college.
The takeaway
Ilk's remarkable achievement of earning $2.7 million in scholarships and becoming the first in his family to attend college demonstrates the transformative power of education and the importance of supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds. His story inspires others and shows that hard work and determination can lead to life-changing opportunities, even for those who may not have a family history of college attendance.
