Journey to College: 16 Students Awarded QuestBridge and Posse Scholarships

Among the over 2,800 early college acceptances that Student Leadership Network’s seniors have received to date, several have earned full scholarships that will cover tuition and other college expenses! Our directors of college counseling (DCCs) guided students through every step of the process, from finding colleges and programs that match their academic, social, and financial situations to reviewing scholarship essays and preparing for interviews.

List of scholar names with their high schools and college matches, with college pennants on the sides — *QuestBridge and Posse Scholars*

For our 16 QuestBridge and Posse Foundation Scholars, their dreams for college are one step closer to reality. These highly competitive programs offer full-tuition college scholarships and tailored college transition support following intensive, months-long applications. About 10% of over 25,000 QuestBridge applicants earned college matches, and scholars have an average GPA of 3.92. Posse Scholars underwent a four-month assessment process to demonstrate their leadership ability, teamwork, motivation, and drive to succeed.

Let’s give a round of applause to our most recent scholarship awardees!

Student quote graphic with text "With the support of my community, my counselor, and my family, I realized I was more than capable of applying. I'm glad I pushed myself and thankful that those who supported me pushed me as well." — *Student’s reflection about his QuestBridge Scholarship*

Student quote: Smith, a lot like TYWLS, is a supportive community with a lot of strong, independent women who will lift you up and not put you down, so that’s why I chose Smith! — *Student’s reflection about her Posse Foundation college match*

We look forward to more college acceptance news in the regular decision cycle and applaud our DCCs’ continued support of students’ financial aid applications. Stay tuned for our Decision Day celebrations this Spring!

A Shoutout to our DCCs

Multi-step applications for each of these programs require months of dedication, time management, and hard work. “Helping students with scholarship applications always brings a sense of excitement because you see so much potential in your students. You want the best for them because you understand the difference it would make in their lives,” said Pedro Cordova, Jr., Director of College Counseling at Williamsburg Prep. Reflecting on his student’s efforts, he shared, “Ryan was dedicated from day one. From using his lunchtime to staying hours after school to work on his application, he worked incredibly hard. After he finished his application, he smiled and said ‘now I can go back to watching my shows.’ We both laughed but it was then that I knew that Ryan gave it his all, and no matter the outcome, he was going to be okay.”

Our DCCs provide coaching and encouragement to students every step of the way to help them reach their goals. Thank you to all of our DCCs and college access services team members for elevating the students’ potential!