- Elijah Hogan recently graduated at the top of his class from Walter L. Cohen Charter High School in New Orleans after living in a homeless youth shelter for more than a year.
- In his speech, he congratulated his classmates for enrolling and graduating from high school during the pandemic and extolled the value of continuing their education amid hardship.
- Hogan plans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and will receive tuition assistance while pursuing a degree in graphic design.
From a homeless shelter in New Orleans to the top of his high school class, Elijah Hogan has already accomplished a lot in life.
Hogan was one of two students who recently graduated at the top of their class from Walter L. Cohen Charter High School, despite living in a youth homeless shelter for more than a year.
“It’s been tough and difficult,” but he’s OK, Hogan told Good Morning America.
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Hogan, 19, was just 8 when her mother died and lived with her grandmother until she moved into Covenant House shelter before her senior year of high school.
Despite the housing instability, Hogan persevered and graduated with a 3.93 GPA. In her speech at her school’s graduation ceremony, Hogan praised her classmates for working hard to “reach the pinnacle of success,” a group that began high school during a pandemic.
“What got us here, through all the trials and challenges and hardships, is that we all set goals to reach,” Hogan said. “Be proud of how far you’ve come. Be confident in how far you can go, but don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”
Elijah Hogan speaks at the Walter L. Cohen Charter High School graduation ceremony in New Orleans on May 24, 2024. Hogan graduated as one of two valedictorians from the charter high school. (Kewe Ukpolo via The Associated Press)
He also called the speech a “thank you letter” to the community that helped him.
Hogan’s character helped him succeed, Jerrell Bryant, CEO of Collegiate Academy, which operates the high school, told The Associated Press.
Jalkayla Cobb, Hogan’s caseworker at Covenant House, noted that when Hogan first came to the shelter, he was very shy.
“Being in a homeless shelter is traumatic. Everything you went through to get here is traumatic,” Cobb said.
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Hogan now plans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, where he plans to receive tuition assistance while pursuing a degree in graphic design.
He encouraged struggling students to remain focused on their studies.
“Without education, you never get to overcome obstacles and meet the people who helped you along the way,” Hogan said.
