3 Newark High School Students Earn Prestigious Scholarships To Ivy League Universities

Press release from the Newark Board of Education:

NEWARK, N.J. – Newark Public Schools officials proudly announced today that three Science Park High School seniors have been awarded highly competitive four-year QuestBridge Scholarships to three Ivy League universities. The students will attend Cornell University, Brown University, and Columbia University, pursuing studies in engineering, computer science, and political science.

The QuestBridge Scholarship Program connects high-achieving students from low-income families with full four-year scholarships to the nation’s most selective colleges and universities.

“We are extremely proud of these three outstanding young ladies,” said Superintendent León, an alumnus of Science High School. “Their achievements reflect individual excellence, and the collective strength of our schools, teachers, and families who support them every step of the way. I look forward to seeing all that they achieve as Ivy League students in college. I have no doubt they will make Newark very proud.”

“Hasni, Yewande, and Nicole exemplify the brilliance, determination, and promise of Newark’s students,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Each of these student has earned a place at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities through hard work, intellectual curiosity, and an unwavering belief in their future. Their success reflects the strength of Newark Public Schools and our commitment to expanding access to opportunity for every student.”

“These achievements speak volumes about the caliber of students we are proud to educate at Science Park High School,” said Principal Darleen L. Gearhart. “Nicole’s passion for justice, Yewande’s leadership in computer science and the arts, and Hasni’s pursuit of engineering excellence demonstrate how our students are using their talents with purpose. We are incredibly proud of all three and excited to see them carry the spirit of Science Park—and Newark—with them to the Ivy League.”

Hasni Buchsamy – Cornell University (Engineering)

Hasni Buchsamy, 17, a senior, has been awarded a QuestBridge Scholarship to attend Cornell University, where she plans to major in engineering.

Buchsamy was waiting to have her senior portrait taken when she got the email from QuestBridge.

“I was kind of nervous, so I wasn’t going to open it,” she said. “Some of my friends were like, ‘Oh, you have to open it right now.’”

Buchsamy acquiesced. The email gave her the good news, and Buchsamy’s smile was extra-bright in her portrait.

The scholarship will have a significant impact on Buchsamy, whose father has retired from a job as a cashier at Newark Liberty International Airport and who mother works as a homemaker.

“It means so much to have an opportunity to college and get a high tier education,” she said.

Buchsamy, who attended Mount Vernon Elementary School before going to Science Park, developed her interest in engineering through hands-on learning as a leader of her high school’s Physics Club. There, she helped design and present experimental demonstrations for students and families. Her passion deepened further through an internship in the physics department at Rutgers University.

Buchsamy also participated in her school’s swim team for two years. Outside of school, she enjoys crocheting, spending time with friends, and birdwatching in Branch Brook Park and Ivy Hill Park.

Yewande Hamzat – Brown University (Computer Science)

Yewande Hamzat, 17, has been awarded a QuestBridge Scholarship to attend Brown University, where she plans to major in computer science.

Hamzat learned of her QuestBridge match during the school day on December 1st. She had planned to open the notification email privately at home, where she had a whole ritual planned that involved playing her favorite song (“Den Den Passion” by the Japanese all-female pop group, Dempagumi) before opening the email. But decisions were released that morning, much earlier than expected, and Hamzat wrestled with whether to open the email through three class periods before finally giving in during her Theory of Knowledge class.

“I opened it and then everybody screamed,” she said. “I read at first I got matched and I was happy, and then I saw Brown and I was really shocked.”

Hamzat’s interest in computer science began at an early age through time spent exploring computers, games, and online platforms. At school, she founded the Girls Who Code chapter during her sophomore year and has served as its president through her senior year. She is also a member of the yearbook committee and the National Honor Society. She has also volunteered as a tutor of younger students at Science Park, and as a leader in schoolwide charity drives.

Hazmat was raised in the Bronx during her early childhood. Her mother teaches kindergarten at the Goddard School of Parsippany. Her older brother, Babajide, is also a QuestBridge Scholar and attends Columbia University, while her older sister, Olamide, attends Montclair State University.

Outside the classroom, Hamzat enjoys digital and traditional art, creative writing, learning guitar, and listening to artists such as Nina Simone.

Nicole Velez Ocampo – Columbia University (Political Science, Pre-Law)

Senior Nicole Velez Ocampo, 18, has been awarded a QuestBridge Scholarship to attend Columbia University, where she plans to major in political science on a pre-law track, with aspirations in immigration and international law.

Velez Ocampo was somewhere in Virginia with her family riding in their Dodge Durango on their way home from Thanksgiving weekend when she learned she had been matched with Columbia University.

“This scholarship means being able to obtain a higher tier education without worrying my family about how they’re going to pay for it,” said Velez Ocampo, “and being able to exercise a love for knowledge and education without that burden.”

Raised in Newark’s North Ward, Velez Ocampo is the youngest of three children and has two brothers who also attended Science Park: Bryan, who recently graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with a master’s degree in engineering; and David, who is an undergraduate engineering student at NJIT. Velez Ocampo intends to attend law school and eventually work in international law, an interest strengthened by Columbia’s proximity to the United Nations headquarters.

A well-rounded student, Velez Ocampo has been a member of her school’s marching, jazz, and concert bands, where she plays the tenor saxophone and mellophone, which she described as a “French horn-trumpet hybrid.”

She played right back on the girls’ soccer team for three seasons. She also volunteers with her mother’s community organization, Colonia Calvense USA, and enjoys creative writing and solving puzzles, particularly the New York Times’ Connections game.

This press release was produced by the Newark Board of Education. The views expressed here are the author’s own.