In December 2025, 17-year-old Olivia Connie-Perkins, a student at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts in Brooklyn, N.Y., became the first student from her campus to be accepted into an Ivy League university. 

For Connie-Perkins and her family, this achievement holds even greater significance as she is a first-generation college student.

“This is something I have been working towards my entire time at Success Academy,” she told People. “Pushing myself to excel academically has always been important to me, so this felt like a culmination of all that hard work.”

Brown University, Connie-Perkins’s first choice, accepted her. The Rhode Island campus was always her top selection. She was drawn to its open curriculum and the “beautiful campus,” which she said reminded her of architecture she had previously studied in art history.

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Connie-Perkins is now officially committed and enthusiastically looking forward to her next chapter. Her recent campus visit left her overwhelmed by the welcoming atmosphere. She shared, “I can’t wait for move-in day!”

The news of her acceptance, which was announced during a school day, was captured in a now-viral video.

“I have a very special announcement,” the principal began over the intercom. “Our school has again made history on the college-acceptance front. We have our first scholar to get accepted into an Ivy League school.”

The congratulatory message was drowned out by the sound of students cheering, applauding, and shouting in excitement as Connie-Perkins covered her mouth in reaction. The heartfelt clip resonated widely, not only for the achievement but also for the classroom’s shared, genuine joy.

Connie-Perkins recounted the moment she heard the news, saying, “[Their reaction] made me realize how great our Success Academy community is. We always celebrate each other and our accomplishments. It felt really nice to experience that, and it’s also been great to celebrate all of my peers’ acceptances.”

Connie-Perkins’ academic and personal growth has been positively shaped by her supportive environment.

“I’ve always cared deeply about my education, and I know how lucky I am to go to a school that has not only supported my academic career but also provided so much opportunity to explore my passions and extracurricular activities,” she expressed.

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“I know that many children do not get these same opportunities, so I am grateful that I was able to attend a school like Success Academy, where I was given the ability to explore my different interests while being set up for academic success,” Connie-Perkins added. “My hope is that more children are given access to schools like Success that really believe in them and invest in them.”

Connie-Perkins maintained a demanding course schedule over the years, completing nearly a dozen Advanced Placement classes. She simultaneously prepared for college by participating in summer programs while also developing her creative interests.

“I love art, crocheting and creating in my free time — I started a student-led club called ‘Yarn Yard,’” she said.  

SA Brooklyn Senior Leader Myra Blain also told People that this achievement shows Success Academy’s history of excellent academic results, which comes from a long-standing focus on shared success.

“This is the ninth year in a row of 100% of Success Academy graduates being accepted to a four-year college, including many acceptances to elite or Ivy League schools,” Blain told People. 

Connie-Perkins’ achievement is a big deal for the Brooklyn campus, which opened in 2022 and will have its first graduating class this year.

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