Shepard student awarded full scholarship to Dartmouth College

Shepard High School senior Emonni Hayes has been awarded a full scholarship to Ivy League school Dartmouth College.

She was one of 2,550 high school seniors to receive the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, which connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. She learned she had been selected on Dec. 1 after receiving an email from QuestBridge.

“This is my greatest achievement,” Hayes said. “I would not be able to afford [this type of] college if I didn’t get the scholarship. My family is on the lower end of income. Keeping my grades up and doing well enough to stand out as an applicant to such a prestigious school is a big accomplishment for me.”

“In my 19 years of teaching, I have encountered few students who embody such genuine intellectual curiosity, compassion, and unwavering integrity,” Shepard Advanced Placement (AP) Social Studies Teacher Julie Boone told the QuestBridge National College Match Selection Committee in her recommendation letter. “She is, quite simply, one of the most authentic individuals I have ever had the privilege to teach.”

QuestBridge sent Hayes an email during her junior year, identifying her as a good candidate to apply for its College Prep Scholars Program. Eligible candidates must earn primarily A’s in the most challenging courses offered; demonstrate strong writing skills and intellectual curiosity, plus resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed; and typically come from a household earning less than $65,000 annually. Juniors who are selected are over seven times more likely than other applicants to receive full four-year scholarships through the National College Match.

When Hayes became a College Prep Scholar, QuestBridge provided many resources, such as guidance to develop a strong college application, access to college admissions conferences, and an opportunity to connect with other students who were accepted into the program.

Winning the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship also connected Hayes with other students who will be attending Dartmouth. They are already texting one another through a group chat.

While her application process involved choosing a maximum of 15 preferred colleges, Hayes is bound to attend Dartmouth. She is leaning toward studying environmental studies and biology but is keeping her options open.

Hayes credits her strong writing skills with getting this scholarship. She encourages other students to stay confident in themselves, even when they encounter a few setbacks.

“Grades are not going to be the end-all, be-all,” she said. “I got a couple of bad grades. I was really scared that higher-up colleges wouldn't want to see my transcript. At the end of the day, I think what helped me stand out were my essays and well-roundedness. So, a couple of bad grades are not going to be the end of the world. You can still move forward.”