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Arianna was inspired to aim high with encouragement from her parents and seeing a previous Kenwood student awarded with about $1 million in scholarships.

“I planted the seed in Arianna’s mind that you can do the same thing,” her father Pierre Alexander told WLS.

“So when the process got started and a million was achieved, let’s go for two. I said let’s go for three and she did it,” he added.

Ultimately, Arianna sorted through her dozens of options and made the decision to attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall, thanks to the advice from one of her teachers, Paul Brush, WLS reported.

“He said, ‘Do you know about the Wharton School of Business? ‘I said, 'I have no idea what you’re talking about,’” she told WLS.

The Gates Scholarship recipient plans to become an entrepreneur and told WLS she’s already starting the groundwork on the menus for the four restaurants she plans to own.

The Alexander family and Kenwood Academy did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

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