Therese Jacob is a journalist at TAPintoNewark, where this was first published.

Fifteen graduating seniors from six Newark high schools will attend top colleges and universities, including Yale, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, M.I.T., University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago, on a full-scholarship through QuestBridge’s College Match program. 

QuestBridge is a national nonprofit dedicated to closing the academic gap by increasing the number of low-income students attending the nation’s top colleges and universities. 

Out of over 20,800 applicants nationally, QuestBridge selected 6,683 finalists to be considered for the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. Out of those finalists, 2,242 received full QuestBridge scholarships, the highest number to date.

The graduating seniors have an average GPA of 3.94, and 93% are in the top 10% of their graduating class. Around 92% come from a household with an annual income under $65,000, and 87% qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. 

The majority of this year’s scholarship recipients — 82% — are among the first generation in their families to attend a four-year college in the United States.

“We are thrilled to welcome this historic number of QuestBridge Scholars,” said Ana Rowena Mallari, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge. “These scholars will bring a depth of thought and range of experiences to our college partner campuses that will surely enrich their new communities.”

QuestBridge estimates more than 30,000 high school students from low-income backgrounds have the necessary academic qualifications to attend the country’s most selective schools. However, more than 80% do not apply to a prestigious college due to the high cost of tuition and other related expenses.

In Newark, North Star Academy, a charter school that is part of the Uncommon Schools network, had the most QuestBridge scholars, with seven.

Bard High School Early College, Science Park High School, Technology High School, ​​Essex County Donald M. Payne Senior School of Technology and St. Benedict’s Prep also have Questbridge scholars.

Here are this year’s scholars: 

Newark School District

Bard High School Early College Newark

Shariah Marsden (Yale University)

Thanks to her QuestBridge scholarship, Shariah Marsden will attend Yale University in the fall where she intends to study molecular biophysics and biochemistry in pursuit, ultimately, of a medical degree. 

“My goal is to fix the underrepresentation of Black women in the medical field, and to give Black women a sense of safety and security when they are in a hospital,” Marsden said. 

She is working towards this goal not only with her studies, but with her extracurricular activities as well. Marsden is the SGA president and runs her own club, Black Girls in Medicine. As a childhood cancer survivor, this work holds special meaning for Marsden. 

Marsden attended Avon Avenue School and Philip’s Academy Charter School. She is currently taking dual-enrollment classes, and has been taking exclusively college-level courses since her junior year. 

“For years my mom and I have wondered how we would afford to send me to college. Receiving a full ride to my dream school is incredible, and it turned my world upside down,” she said. 

Science Park High School

Adamari Rodriguez-Valdiviezo (Johns Hopkins University)

Adamari Rodriguez-Valdiviezo received a Questbridge scholarship to Johns Hopkins University, where she plans to study molecular and cellular biology with a minor in physics. She is an alumna of Abington Avenue School, where she frequently returns to tutor. 

At Science Park High School, she is on the IB Diploma track and she takes AP Calculus classes. She was also selected to attend the Governor’s School in the Sciences at Drew University last summer. This program helped inspire her to pursue a career in science. Rodriguez-Valdiviezo hopes to one day become an OB-GYN specializing in high risk pregnancies in under-served communities. 

Rodriguez-Valdiviezo attributes much of her success to the example set by her hard-working family, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador. 

“I’m a first-generation high school graduate and I am thrilled to be a first-generation college graduate thanks to the QuestBridge Scholarship opportunity,” she said. 

Technology High School 

Laiba Arif (Hamilton College)

Laiba Arif will study psychology at Hamilton College in the fall, thanks to her QuestBridge scholarship. She attended Mount Vernon Elementary School, and is currently part of Montclair State University’s dual enrollment program, where she has earned 12 college credits already.

In high school, Arif has participated in NJ LEEP, managed the track team, is part of the student committee as well as the National Honor Society, and is an after-school tutor. 

“My acceptance to QuestBridge unlocks doors to a brighter future, marking a pivotal moment in my journey towards achieving my goals,” Arif said. 

Mariana Nolasco (Tufts University)

Mariana Nolasco has thrived during her four years at Technology High School. She has taken five honors classes and seven AP classes. In addition to her academic pursuits at Technology High school, she is also enrolled in Montclair State’s dual enrollment program. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and she manages some seasonal sports teams. 

Nolasco credits her family for much of her success, and knows that this QuestBridge scholarship will bring them great pride and comfort. She will be a first-generation college student on both sides of her family. 

“This acceptance means being able to fulfill what my parents, family, and I have always dreamed of achieving,” she said.  

At Tufts, she plans on either studying clinical psychology or cognitive and brain science. 

Essex County Donald M. Payne Senior School of Technology 

Babajide Hamzat 

Babajide Hamzat ranks number one in his class at Donald M. Payne Senior School of Technology. While taking a total of 13 rigorous advanced, honors, and AP classes, Hamzat was able to maintain a 4.5 GPA during his high school career. His 1510 SAT score is another feather in his cap. 

In addition to his studies, Hamzat participated in a wide array of extracurricular activities. He is the president of the student council, vice president of the Black Student Union, and a member of the National Honor Society. Additionally, he manages multiple student athletics and is a member of the Thrive Scholars. 

Hamzat plans on majoring in computer science in college. He is grateful for the incredible opportunity the QuestBridge scholarship has provided for him. 

“Unfortunately, college is one of many resources that people from underprivileged backgrounds, like myself, usually do not have access to, so I am grateful for being given the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education while free of the burden of student debt,” he said. 

Andrés Jaquez Cruz (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Andrés Jaquez Cruz moved from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. ten years ago, at the age of seven. He started at First Avenue School in Newark in fifth grade and now attends Donald M. Payne Senior School of Technology.

In addition to the seven AP classes Jaquez Cruz has taken during high school, he is a member of the National Honor Society, robotics club, and mock trial club. He is also a STEM Scholar and Cooperman Scholar. 

Thanks in part to his QuestBridge scholarship, Jaquez Cruz will attend MIT in the fall where he hopes to study mechanical engineering. He is grateful that this scholarship will afford him the opportunity to receive an advanced degree from a prestigious institution while not burdening his family financially. 

Sarah Monteiro (University of Pennsylvania)

For Sarah Monteiro, her QuestBridge scholarship was truly life changing. 

“Before stumbling upon this incredible opportunity, the idea of attending college seemed like a distant dream, overshadowed by the financial constraints of a low income family,” she said.

Monteiro was born and raised in Newark by Portuguese immigrant parents. She attended Elliott Street School for elementary and middle school. 

During high school, Monteiro was enrolled mostly in honors and AP classes including AP U.S. History, AP Spanish, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus among others. 

Outside of the classroom, Monteiro is equally as busy and challenged. She is the vice president of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, and the goalkeeper for the varsity girls soccer team. She’s an avid piano player and a member of NJ LEEP. 

She plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she is undecided on her major. She aspires to attend either law or medical school after graduation. 

“Questbridge didn’t just grant me a scholarship; it bestowed upon me the power to reshape my future,” Monteiro said. 

North Star Academy – Washington Park Campus

Sean Adams (Duke University) 

Sean Adams was matched with Duke University, where he plans to major in aerospace engineering. Adams is most proud of scoring fours and fives on his exams for college-level Advanced Placement courses. Adams was part of his church’s youth leadership group that tutored children who were enrolled in the youth groups. 

“This taught me that I could impact and shape the minds of young people, providing me with a sense of responsibility and purpose,” he said. 

After graduating from college, Adams said he hopes to become an aerospace engineer. 

“I’ve always been interested in space since my childhood,” he said. “I want to learn how to build spacecraft and continue to break barriers for African Americans in the Aerospace industry.”

David Castillo Tavarez (University of Chicago)

David Castillo Tavarez was matched with the University of Chicago, where he plans to major in sociology. Castillo Taverez is most proud of helping lead North Star Academy’s boy’s volleyball team to a division championship during his junior year. Before his sophomore year, he never played volleyball. “Even though our first season was discouraging, my team and I came back junior year and were dedicated to winning,” he said. 

Castillo Taverez also participated in a project called My Son Is Me, which centered around the advancement, support and collaboration of male students from various grade levels. As part of the project, Castillo Taverez and his classmates developed a school store that gave away toiletry necessities to the student body. 

After graduating from college, Castillo Taverez said he would like to go to law school and eventually become a corporate lawyer.

Justin Vasquez Peralta (Amherst College)
 
Justin Vasquez Peralta will attend Amherst College, where he plans to be a pre-med major. 

During high school, he was an intern at Audible in Newark. He also tutored non-English speaking North Star Academy students. 

“We met three out of the five school days where I translated their class material and assisted with understanding the content. While it started off as a simple act of kindness, I realize that it made a significant difference for the student academically at such a rigorous school.” 

Vasquez Peralta said he would like to go to medical school after college with the goal of becoming a pediatrician.

North Star Academy – Lincoln Park Campus

Dagbegnon Amouzou (Tufts University)

Dagbegnon Amouzou was matched with Tufts University, where he plans to major in biomedical engineering. One of the highlights of high school for Amouzou was earning a five out of five on the college-level Advanced Placement Calculus BC exam. 

Outside of school, he is an active practitioner of karate. Amouzou said attending pre-college over the Summer at Stevens Institute of Technology helped him get out of his comfort zone and start the college process.  Amouzou hopes to land a job in the field of biomedical engineering.

Thierno Jalloh (Vanderbilt University)

Thierno Jalloh received a Questbridge scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University, where he plans to major in computer science.

In high school, Jalloh set the school record for the 1600 meters in track and field. He was also captain of the school soccer team and was elected student council president. 

Jalloh also found time to organize a coat drive through Franciscan charities, which resulted in the distribution of hundreds of coats, hats, scarves and gloves to families in need in Newark. 

He hopes to land a job in cyber security after he graduates from college.

Alex Mateo (Emory University)

Alex Mateo was matched with Emory University, where he plans to study business. 

One highlight of high school is traveling across the country with his DECA teammates and preparing for the competitions. 

Mateo stayed on the honor roll for this entire time at North Star Academy, while working at Wendy’s. He hopes to be a business owner after graduating from college.

Arouna Ouedraogo (University of Chicago)

Arouna Ouedraogo was matched with the University of Chicago, where he plans to major in chemical engineering. 

Ouedraogo enjoys spending time with his friends on weekends discussing books they are reading, concepts they are studying and current events, allowing him to “see how my friends–other really smart kids–are thinking about important topics and concepts.” 

After graduation, he hopes to become a chemical engineer and return to the African nation of Burkina Faso, where he grew up. 

“It’s a community in desperate need of support,” he said..

Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School

Alan Mba (Northwestern University)

Alan Mba made his way to St. Benedict’s Prep via Nigeria, France, and finally Canada before moving to Newark in 2021. 

Since joining St. Benedict’s, Mba has excelled both academically and in his extracurricular activities. Although St. Benedict’s doesn’t offer AP level courses, Mba has challenged himself academically, even taking a “Concepts in Biology” class through the New Jersey Institute of Technology. 

Outside of the classroom, Mba has been active on the school’s soccer and crew teams. He is a member of the National Honor Society, co-chairman of the school’s investment club, and vice president of the chess club. He is also part of student leadership at the school. 

In the fall, Mba will attend Northwestern University, where he plans on majoring in biological sciences. 

“I am proud to be a part of the Class of 2028 QuestBridge Scholars Program,” Mba said. “I am proud of and grateful for the relationships I made over these high school years. I am talking about the friends, the coaches, and the teachers who helped me when I felt alone or was struggling. I am proud to have these generous people be part of my life, now and into the future. I could not have achieved what I have without them.”

Photo courtesy of the schools.