A full four-year scholarship from QuestBridge National College Match to study at Emory University in fall 2024 will allow Americas High School senior Barbara Chavez to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney.
Chavez was among 2,242 high school seniors nationwide awarded the prestigious scholarship to attend one of 50 of the nation’s best colleges. This was the highest number of Match Scholarship Recipients to date for QuestBridge.
“My grandfather used to say that education is the most important thing in the world for your success. And I always took that to heart by continuing (my education), taking the hardest classes, and even though it wasn’t the easiest at times, I always pushed through,” said Chavez, who attributed earning the scholarship to working hard.
QuestBridge partners with 50 prestigious colleges to support high-achieving, low-income students through the National College Match application. Finalists who match are admitted early with a full four-year scholarship to the school they matched with. The Match Scholarship is made up of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies, and travel expenses.
Americas High School Principal Nancy Torres announced the good news to dozens of Trailblazers in the school's theater on January 24 and congratulated Chavez for her achievement.
Chavez shared her experience with her fellow students and encouraged them to apply for scholarships and take advantage of pre-college summer programs. One of the programs she recommended was the QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship program, which she attended last March at Pamona College in Claremont, California. During the conference, she met with admissions counselors from QuestBridge partner schools and received specialized guidance to apply to top colleges.
Attendees cheered and applauded Chavez when she announced that as part of her QuestBridge package, she expected to receive $91,000 per semester for four years to attend Emory University, a private university in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Being a QuestBridge finalist was one of the most important things that could have happened to me because, obviously, it’s such a huge accomplishment. I urge you guys to apply for as many scholarships as possible,” Chavez said. She also encouraged students not to give up, even if they face setbacks. “If I didn’t keep going for College Prep Scholars and for (National College Match), I would not be here today,” she added.
An exceptional student, Chavez has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout all four years of high school. Since her freshman year, she has been highly active in various programs and organizations at Americas, which have significantly contributed to her education and personal growth. Chavez is in the Libertas Academy and serves as mock trial team president and secretary of the National Honor Society. She has also been in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college and career readiness program since sixth grade, which has prepared her well for admission to Emory University.
Americas Go Center Advisor Samantha Fraire said Chavez’s impressive academic record and active involvement in school activities distinguished her from the other QuestBridge applicants.
“Barbara is such a hard-working student; she’s had to overcome so many huge obstacles in her personal life, but she never once let that stop her. In fact, she took that in stride and pushed forward,” Fraire said. “She has shown such immense perseverance in her life so far, I can only imagine what she will accomplish at Emory University and in her professional career.”
Torres also thanked the school’s counselors and college advisor for helping students like Chavez become successful in transitioning into the real world after high school. “The support they provide to our students is crucial for you all to be successful and to bridge out to the real world,” Torres said. “We’re getting you ready to cross that bridge and go out there.”