Graduation celebrations are underway at the University of Alabama this week, as the upcoming graduation this Saturday looms. But, for 16-year-old LeAnna Roberts, it’s a stepping stone to even greater things. 

The Class of 2023 biology student will walk across the stage to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in biology, graduating at the top of her class, summa cum laude, decorated in over 12 honors ropes and tassels.

“I’m super-excited, it has not really sunk in yet, but I’m very excited. My family, of course, they’re all super-proud of me and will be coming to support,” Roberts told the Tuscaloosa News.

Not nearly old enough to drive or even vote, the Tuscaloosa native is among the school’s youngest graduates. Next up on Roberts’ agenda is the yearlong medical school application process.

“I am currently preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test next month so I can start the application process for medical schools,” she said, according to the school’s website.

With a diploma and associate degree, the future aspiring orthopedic surgeon is continuing her tenure at UA. Her post-graduation plans also include taking graduate-level courses with a concentration in health care. She plans to graduate in May 2024 through the STEM Path to MBA program. The teen’s ultimate goal is to positively impact the medical field with a focus on healthcare disparities in rural communities.

“I want to become a surgeon to close the gaps in health care for so many nationally and internationally,” Roberts told WTVM 13.

Roberts has been on a path of excellence since 2021. Able to finish high school early through dual enrollment, she graduated with her high school diploma from Central High School and an associate degree in biology from Shelton State Community College at just 15 years old the same day. Roberts then transferred to the University of Alabama to pursue her Bachelor of Science on a premed track.

“I’ve always chased a challenge because it’s a great feeling to do something that other people haven’t,” Roberts told WVTM 13 in 2021.

Although she’s younger than her classmates, Roberts said her UA peers and professors have made her feel right at home. Most are unaware of the age difference, so the 16-year-old considers herself a typical student, keeping busy and experiencing college life alongside her peers. Furthermore, she has never let her age define or hinder her efforts to achieve her goals.

“Hearing the accolades and achievements might seem as if I’m constantly studying or constantly doing homework but with balance, I’ve been able to have a social life and be involved with different events on campus,” Roberts said.

For Roberts, her often rigorous schedule doesn’t deter her from her love for learning while still enjoying life as a teenager.

“The name of the game has definitely been balance. Balancing extracurricular activities as well as remaining vigilant in the classroom has helped me succeed so far,” she told WVTM 13.

 

If she wasn’t impressive enough already, the teen student eagerly matched her coursework with community involvement.

“I have been an Al’s Pals and Vision Days mentor during my two years as an undergraduate student, and I am a volunteer at Druid City Hospital,” Roberts told Local12 News. 

“This past summer, I interned at the UAB Kidney Undergraduate Research Experience and performed kidney research, studying the effects of acute kidney injury, under the mentorship of Dr. Anupam Agarwal, a nephrology specialist and dean of Heersink School of Medicine at UAB,” she said.

Roberts also recently collaborated with Dr. Avani Shah, an associate professor in UA’s School of Social Work, to have an abstract published focusing on health disparity and literacy in the Black Belt communities.

“I’m in the Society of Women in Medicine as an executive board, Vision Days ambassador, as well as a mentor,” Roberts continued.

Despite her unusual matriculation, Roberts’ support from her parents is unwavering. Parents Lee and Latonya Roberts expressed intense pride for their daughter’s accomplishments.

Mother Latonya was eager to pick her daughter up from school each day, delighting in the stories of her brilliant daughter’s day.

“I was always excited to hear about her day. Every day was unique, even though certain days were more challenging than others, but she always saw the bright side,” the proud mother told WVTM 13.

LeAnna credits her success to the support of her family, which she is grateful for helping pave the way for her accomplishments.

“My family, both close and extended, have always been a great support to me,” she said. “My aunt and uncle are both in health care and work in Birmingham so they’ve always been a guiding light for me, as well as showing me that I can do it and I can do whatever it is that I desire to achieve.”

LeAnna will bear a red cap, which signifies her 4.0 GPA, at the noon commencement ceremony at Coleman Coliseum on Saturday.

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