Rochester Prep Students Earn Full Scholarships to Prestigious Colleges

Four students from Rochester Prep will attend Notre Dame, Colgate University, the University of Chicago and Boston University on a full four-year ride after they were recently awarded scholarships through the QuestBridge National College Match.

QuestBridge is a competitive academic program that offers top-performing high school seniors from low-income backgrounds an opportunity to attend some of the most selective higher education institutions in the U.S.

The four Rochester Prep students were selected from among more than 17,900 applicants for the scholarship. Of those, 5,613 were selected as finalists and 1,755 high school seniors from around the country were matched with one of the 48 partner colleges - the highest number of match scholarship recipients to date for the program.

“These bright and motivated students have a determination to succeed that will help them thrive well beyond their college years, and we’re excited to see where their dreams take them next,” said Ana Rowena Mallari, the co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge.

Mallari said the scholarships make an education at a top college affordable for students and their families. The QuestBridge scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses.

All four students have worked hard in high school to achieve top grades and all have goals in life.

Angel Gonzalez, who plans to major in psychology at Colgate, said he wants to be a social worker or a mental health therapist after he graduates from college.

“I want to be a resource for children, youth, and also adults,” he said. “We lack a lot of people of color as therapists. We also lack LGBTQ therapists. I want to expand the world. I want to expand the medical field. Creating a space for people like me is my goal, the goal that I want to achieve as a social worker. I want to be an activist through my work as a social worker. That's my goal.”

Gonzalez said he is proud of the grades he earned in high school, especially in English, which is his second language.

“The fact that I had a high grade in English is crazy to me,” Gonzalez said. “Being bilingual wasn't easy and is not easy today. Knowing English and being able to understand it and be good at it is a dream for me. It says a lot about me. It says that I'm outgoing, brave, and intelligent. It was never easy for me to go from only Spanish, to know English as well. I'm proud of myself and I have pride in myself, in a good way.”

Naja Thompson, who intends to major in Law, Letters, and Society and possibly public policy at the University of Chicago, said she is not sure exactly what she wants to do after college, but is confident she will be successful.

“I want to be financially stable with a degree in law or psychology and I want to be a person who initiates change and loves doing it,” said Thompson, who maintained a 4.2 GPA during high school and was on the cheer team.

Aneka Lewis, who plans to major in environmental science at Notre Dame, would like to become an environmental scientist and an herbalist after she graduates.

Lewis, who is most proud of passing her AP exams with a 3 or 4, said one teacher in particular had an influence on her, Alyse Aquino.

“She includes her activism inside of the classroom and makes everyone feel accepted in her class,” Lewis said.

Alexsandra Soto, who will be majoring in biology at Boston University, hopes to become a labor and delivery nurse or a physician’s assistant.

In high school, she earned a 4.0 grade point average while taking multiple Advanced Placement classes and participating in several sports and clubs. She said high school was challenging but a fun experience.

Soto said two teachers had a profound impact on her, Alyse Aquino and Stephen Gallagher.

“They pushed me to do my best and they were always so open with me when communicating with any issues I had,” Soto said. “They always gave me confidence whenever I would worry about college or exams. They always had faith in me and never let me down.”