Youngest student in FAMU's spring 2025 class, who enrolled at 16, is set to graduate
Florida A&M University senior Curtis Lawrence III , who became FAMU's youngest student a few years ago at the age of 16, was determined to get the full college experience before going out into the "real world."
And that he did.
After four years of taking challenging courses and making memories, Curtis is set to graduate this spring at the age of 20, still the youngest in his class.
Alongside him after the four-year journey will be his roommate Nedim Yusuf , a fellow high school graduate who helped ease his adjustment to Tallahassee when they began their time at FAMU.
"The four years that I've been here, I've done a lot and I've changed a lot as a person, and I'm prepared to go on to the next chapter," Curtis – a biology major and Washington, D.C. native – told the Tallahassee Democrat.
When Curtis announced plans to move to the "Highest of Seven Hills" to attend FAMU in 2021, he generated national headlines, having been accepted to 14 colleges or universities – including Morehouse College, Yale and Harvard – while amassing over $1.65 million in merit scholarships.
He entered FAMU as a junior after enrolling in fall 2019 at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., at age 14, where he was recognized as the youngest freshman in the university's history.
That coveted acceptance at George Washington allowed him to forgo his junior and senior years after excelling at the Schools Without Walls High School, a public magnet school on the George Washington University campus that both Curtis and Yusef graduated from.
More: 16-year-old chooses FAMU over Yale, Harvard as he amasses $1.6 million in scholarships
And now, Curtis says that while his father was the first man in his family to graduate from college years ago, he will be the first man on his mom's side to be graduating from college.
"It's nice to be continuing my dad's legacy while also starting a new legacy on my mom's side at the same time," Curtis said humbly as he and Yusuf sat outside FAMU's Center for Access and Student Success building, just a walking distance from the Lawson Center where they'll both turn their tassels during commencement May 3.
As big supporters of Curtis – and of their younger son Corey , a current FAMU student who followed in Curtis's footsteps and will graduate in two years – parents Curtis Lawrence, Jr. and Malene Lawrence, an early college prep coach and learning specialist, said it's hard to put into words what it means to them to watch their eldest achieve "so much at such a young age."
"We're incredibly proud of his persistence and consistent dedication to excellence, especially with the community that nurtured him and the professors and mentors who believed in him," said Curtis Lawrence, Jr., a principal of the IDEA Public School campus in Jacksonville. "His journey is a reminder that with faith, hard work and support, extraordinary things are possible."
FAMU roommates find their way during 'a fast four years'
As the years went by during Curtis and Yusuf's collegiate journey, they both encountered some changes along the way.
Having had a STEM interest since being a toddler, Curtis's initial plan was to major in biology and computer science with a minor in Mandarin. But while he's still ending his FAMU journey with a biology major, he decided to pursue a minor in liberal arts instead.
Curtis's course load over the years hasn't been the same either as he began getting more involved on campus and started applying for graduate school.
He started by taking 17 to 18 credits per semester but transitioned to staying around 15 to 16 credits, which have included a few classes on Florida State University's campus – two geology courses, physical anthropology and herpetology, his favorite class.
This semester, he completed his last nine credits required to wrap up his senior year before crossing the stage, where he will graduate summa cum laude, a Latin phrase that translates to "with highest honors."
But Yusuf – a physics major with a minor in mathematics – says he still keeps up with taking a heavy course load of up to 18 credits per semester while juggling his involvement in student organizations on campus, such as the Society of Physics Students, the African Student Association and a physics honor society.
"It's kind of bittersweet that I'm graduating," 22-year-old Yusuf, also a Washington D.C. native, told the Democrat in a soft-spoken manner. "It feels like it's been such a fast four years from the time I got here as a freshman, and as I'm transitioning into the real world, I'm really going to miss FAMU and the community here."
His busy schedule is challenging at times, he says, but having enjoyable courses makes up for it – including astrophysics, one of his favorite classes at FAMU.
In addition, while the roommates used to visit Railroad Square as freshmen for one of their favorite pastimes – participating in a trade card game by the name of Magic: The Gathering – they've taken up some hobbies of their own, where Curtis says he's gotten into roller skating while Yusuf enjoys sewing and making art.
Nonetheless, Curtis and Yusuf's ambitious academic drives have not altered. After graduating from FAMU, Curtis will be attending Villanova University in Pennsylvania as a Presidential Fellow in a two-year biology master's program.
While Curtis previously wanted to become a paleontologist, he says he's shifted gears a bit and has become more interested in ecology and evolutionary biology. He also has his eye on a career in academia in order to teach or do outreach while also being able to conduct research.
Yusuf plans on taking a gap year to gain more research experience in the field of astrophysics before attending graduate school in pursuit of a doctoral degree, he says, and graduating from FAMU is especially meaningful for him as a first-generation college student.
"I'm so proud of him," said Sozit Yousuf, Yusuf's mother. "He accomplished a lot in these four years, and he grew tremendously."
FAMU's 'level of community' is what attracted then 16-year-old student
As Curtis and Yusuf reflected on their time at FAMU, they both expressed how the support they've gotten on campus has been unmatched. For Curtis, it's one of the highlights that attracted him to the university.
"The support that I have from the university is one of the main reasons why I ended up choosing to come here," Curtis said. "The level of community is unique to FAMU and HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in general. Whatever problem I have, there's always someone I can go to."
One of the individuals at FAMU who Curtis says has been a big part of his support system is University Scholarship Program Director Dedra O'Neal, who began fostering a relationship with him at an early stage by holding extensive virtual sessions with him to understand his goals and interests before he applied to the university.
Over the years, O'Neal has worked closely with both Yusuf – who she's watched evolve from a shy student into a skilled public speaker – and Curtis, who she proudly says has increased her vocabulary.
"We don't get to engage students of Curtis's caliber on a day-to-day basis," O'Neal said. "I'm so proud of him and am thankful that his parents entrusted Florida A&M University with their 16-year-old son."
The roommates will graduate from FAMU's College of Science and Technology at 2 p.m. May 3, which will be the last of the university's three ceremonies that begin May 2. Following their graduation will be a joint party with two other graduates hosted by all of their parents to celebrate the achievements.
"I feel like it hasn't necessarily hit me yet, but it'll probably hit me as I'm walking across the stage," Curtis said, referring to graduation. "I'm glad I got the chance to be here for this FAMU environment to shape me into the person I am today."
Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com . Follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU student Corey Lawrence III, roommate will graduate this spring
