In Marianne Ragins' senior year of high school, she won over $400,000 in scholarships for college. As perhaps the first student ever to amass nearly half a million dollars in scholarship money, she has been featured in many publications including USA Today, People, Ebony, Newsweek, Money, Essence, Family Money, Black Enterprise and on the cover of Parade. She has also made hundreds of radio and television appearances on shows such as "Good Morning America," "The Home Show," and the "Mike & Maty Show."

Marianne Ragins received a master of business administration (MBA) from George Washington in Washington, D.C. and a bachelor of science (BS) degree in business administration from Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Florida. Both degrees were entirely funded by scholarships and other free aid. Marianne Ragins is also the author of the highly successful Winning Scholarships for College: An Insider's Guide and College Survival & Success Skills 101.

She is an experienced motivational speaker and lecturer who has traveled nationally and internationally presenting The Scholarship Workshop and giving other motivational seminars and speeches.