DEARBORN—Fordson High School student Mohammad Ziad Abdulghani was recently accepted at Harvard University. The Ivy League school is known as one of the most prestigious universities in the world and had a 5.9 acceptance rate as of 2014.

Last year, The Arab American News reported that eight Arab Americans from Dearborn were accepted at Harvard since 2012.

“Their admission definitely served as a motivating factor,” Abdulghani said.

He is the son of Ziad and Amor Abdulghani and has three siblings, Hamdan, Lena and Mariam.

“We are so proud of our son,” Ziad Abdulghani said.

The 17-year-old senior said he was thankful for the support of his family, friends and community over years and that they contributed immensely to his academic achievements.

One of Abdulghani’s college application essays was a tribute to his parents for all the sacrifices they’ve made for him over the years.

“My success stems from the love and support of my family,” he said. “The aid of friends, administrators and the community has served as an invaluable guide.”

Abdulghani said it is important for high school students to be active in school and community organizations because it makesthem more desirable college applicants.

“Students should try to maintain a good GPA and rank,” he said. “I am currently ranked number one in my senior class, so students should try to be in the top 20 of their class.”

Abdulghani is interested in going into the medical or engineering fields, though said he’d wait until he was in college to decide on a major.

“I have always generally liked the math and sciences,” he said.

His advice for his fellow students is to start early on college applications, saying it willbe difficult to finish if they wait until the last minute.

Abdulghani holds a 4.44 GPA that is expected to increase by the end of the semester.

He is currently lieutenant governor of Michigan’s Key Club Division 12, and was awarded outstanding vice president in the Michigan Key Club last year and was honored locally for his service as Key Club Bulletin editor two years ago. Abdulghani is also a member of the National Honor Society and holds a black belt in martial arts.

He was also accepted at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. He plans on deciding which of the schools he will attend next fall by April.

Abdulghani, who has lived in Dearborn since 1999, has plans to give back to the community one day.

“It would be an honor to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” he said. “Hopefully, in the future I can give a scholarship to students in need or help in some way else.”