New Orleans valedictorian graduates top of his class while homeless [Video]

A high school senior recently graduated at the top of his class, despite living in a homeless shelter for youth for more than a year.

Elijah Hogan graduated as one of two valedictorians at Walter L. Cohen Charter High School in New Orleans. 

“I am a youth experiencing homelessness in the city of New Orleans,” Hogan wrote on a GoFundMe account he created earlier this month asking for college donations. “Despite these unfortunate circumstances, I’ve chosen to push forward and by the grace of God achieved becoming my school’s Valedictorian for the year of 2024. ” 

According to The Associated Press, the 19-year-old was only 8 when his mother died. He had been living with his grandmother, but for the last year and a half, he has been a resident at the Covenant House, which provides a place to stay for youth who are homeless.

Jarkayla Cobb, Hogan’s case worker at Covenant …