DC student receives 25 college offers, owns a company dedicated to stopping gun violence

by Caroline Patrickis/ABC7

Wed, November 27th 2019 at 12:18 PM

Updated Sat, November 30th 2019 at 3:15 PM

RuQuan Brown, 17, received 24 college offers to universities such as Harvard, Yale, Georgetown all while running a business dedicated to stopping gun violence. (Ray Vincent De Jesus){p}{/p}

One Gun Gone takes one gun off the street, makes art from that gun and sells that art to buy more guns off the street. (Scott Lapham/Onegungone.com)

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RuQuan Brown, 17, received 24 college offers to universities such as Harvard, Yale, Georgetown all while running a business dedicated to stopping gun violence. (Ray Vincent De Jesus)

Washington, D.C. (ABC7) — RuQuan Brown, a D.C. high school student, has gained admission into 25 college universities including Ivy League schools and full ride scholarships.

"Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Georgetown, Princeton, just to name a few," Brown laughed. "It just kind of sky rocketed and we're already at 24."

It's no question that he's smart.

After all, the football player attends the best public high school in the District of Columbia, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School.

When he's not studying, he is a football champion at Theodore Roosevelt.

"I love football and I am very good at it."

And when he's not on the field or in the classroom, he's on a mission to end gun violence after launching his own company that is dedicated to tackling the issue.

On January 30 he will celebrate the one year anniversary of his company, Love1.

Love1, is an anti-gun violence clothing line, which helps to get guns off of the streets.

He started it shortly after his step dad and teammate were murdered.

"My stepdad was murdered in 2018," Brown explained. "Right before I started getting college offers, my stepdad who inspired me, was murdered."

Brown says he also had a teammate who was gunned down in 2017 and he wore #1 on his jersey.

He used the pain from these moments as the backbone of his company.

Afterall, his stepdad is the reason he plays football to begin with. "When I was seven years old, he took me to my first football practice. He was really my inspiration and motivation when it comes to football."

"I t ake 20% of the proceeds and donate it to an organization that buys guns from our streets and turns them into art."

One Gun Gone legally purchases the guns through a police sanctioned buy back program and turns them into art.

"I have eight siblings and they are my biggest motivators" Brown said.

He works hard to make his family proud, and lately he's making the community proud.

Brown will decide where he will attend college on February 5 during signing day.

Until then, he is hoping to grow his company and make a lasting legacy at his high school.

DC student receives 25 college offers, owns a company dedicated to stopping gun violence

"I take 20% of the proceeds and donate it to an organization that buys guns from our streets and turns them into art."

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"I t ake 20% of the proceeds and donate it to an organization that buys guns from our streets and turns them into art."