US high school student offered $1.2 million in university scholarships

A teenager in the US will have no fears about repaying her student loan after being offered more than US$1 million ($1.2 million) in scholarship funds.

Shanya Robinson-Owens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania secured the staggering sum of after applying to more than 20 universities and being given a place at 18 schools, Good Morning America reports.

"I was pretty excited," Shanya told GMA. "I wasn't really expecting it".

The 17-year-old is a student at the George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science.

"I was really shocked... I didn't know what to do, I didn't know if I could cry, laugh... I didn't know what to do," she told local Philadelphia media.

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Her favourite subject is chemistry and being involved in journalism class.

"I knew she wouldn't have a problem getting into colleges, but we didn't know they would award her this much money in scholarship funds," Shanya's aunt Christine Owens told GMA.

Outside of her studies Shanya is a keen writer who enjoys listening to music.

She attributes her success to having patience and taking her time, advising other students to "stay focused" and ask for help when they are overcome by stress.

Shanya has been accepted to, but not limited to, Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; La Salle University in Philadelphia; Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri; Temple University in Philadelphia and Cabrini University in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

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