Paris Higgs, year-round girls track athlete, will major in biology with her sights on medical school
PATERSON – In a continuing trend of district students gaining acceptance to many of the nation's elite colleges and universities, Paterson Public Schools officials announced today that Eastside High School senior Paris Higgs has been accepted to Howard University. Higgs will be the first in her family to go to college. She intends to major in biology with her sights on medical school.
Last summer, Higgs was appointed as an alternate student representative to the Board of Education.
“I am fortunate that I have had the chance to get to know Paris during the past year when she was nominated for the student representative position. I am so proud of her on her acceptance to Howard University,” said Superintendent of Schools Eileen F. Shafer. “I have no doubt that she will be successful in college and in her chosen career in medicine. I want to congratulate her as well as her family. I thank all of Paris’ teachers, coaches, and administrators for helping Paris achieve her very best in order to obtain this tremendous opportunity.”
Higgs is a native of the Bahamas. She has a sister who is 12 and a brother who is 8. She and her family were living in Turks and Caicos before coming to Paterson with her family when she was 11 years old. She enrolled in Public School No. 26 after she arrived.
Higgs is a member of the National Honors Society and the captain of the Eastside Girls Track Team. She has competed in all three of the track team’s seasons. Last week, she was among the runners who won their section in the 4x100 at the Penn Relays.
On being the first in her family to go to college, Higgs said, “It’s a very big accomplishment.”
She said she chose Howard University because she felt a connection with the school.
“I liked the culture and the environment,” she said. “It’s very community based, like it’s just one big family.”
Paris Higgs
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