POTTSTOWN — Seniors Miranda Pineda and Aniyah Wells have been announced as finalists in the Questbridge National College match program.
Questbridge connects high achieving students with top colleges across the country. This year over 20,000 applications have been received. Wells and Pineda are among the 6,000 finalists.
In order to be selected as a finalist applicants had to demonstrate strong, writing skills and intellectual curiosity, plus resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed The four-year scholarship covers tuition, room, board, books and other expenses with a four-year value approximately $325,000.
“Initially the Questbridge application was very overwhelming when I saw the length of the application, but with the help of (Career coach Susan Pritt), it became much easier,” Wells said. “I’m extremely proud of the essays I wrote and the excitement of being selected as a finalist was well worth the work. The chance of being given a full ride to major in nursing is such a privilege. I hope to use it to become an ultrasound technician and continue the legacy of proud to be from Pottstown.”
“When I learned I was selected as a finalist, I felt a sense of disbelief,” Pineda said. “It was a moment that affirmed my hard work had truly paid off. I hope to match with a school that allows me to major in finance and pursue my passion of becoming a businesswoman in the coming years focusing on financial and economic literacy. Eventually, I’d like to establish my own financial firm within a few years”
Co-founded in 1994 by Ana Rowena Mallari and Dr. Michael McCullough while they attended Stanford University, QuestBridge began as a five-week residential summer program for high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds, according to the organization’s website.
In 2004, QuestBridge brought on Amherst College, Grinnell College, and Rice University as its first college partners, admitting students with full four-year scholarships through the National College Match. This unique model for college admissions was built on the lessons learned from Mallari and McCulloughs experiences with high school juniors. Having witnessed how students thrived when they were in a community of people from a similar background, the two knew that low-income students needed more than a path to college – they also needed support through and beyond college. The QuestBridge Scholars Network and Alumni Association were formed to provide this ongoing support, according to the website.
This year, Cornell University and Skidmore College joined as Questbridge partners.
More than 40,000 students have been admitted to college partners through QuestBridge. The graduation rate of QuestBridge Scholars is equivalent to the graduation rates of our college partners.
