Five outstanding Canutillo High School students are a few steps closer to their quest of earning a college degree from one of the nation’s top universities after being named finalists of the prestigious Questbridge National College Match scholarship.
Seniors Benjamin Lerma, Christian Choi, Angel Rodriguez, Christopher Brock and Evelyn Gesualdo-Lopez are in the running to receive the highly competitive scholarship that provides full financial support to attend 48 of the nation's best colleges and universities.
“These students have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership skills and determination despite facing challenges,” CHS Principal Candice Marrufo said. “Their dedication to education has been recognized, and they are now among a select group of finalists vying for the opportunity to attend some of the nation’s top universities.”
The CHS finalists all share an interest in pursuing STEM related career paths with the intent of serving others and making their community and world a better place.
Gesualdo-Lopez plans to double major in electrical engineering and material science, pursue advanced degrees and become an engineer. Brock hopes to study biological science to become an anesthesiologist. Rodriguez plans to major in biochemistry and also aspires to be an anesthesiologist. Choi has his sights set on either earning a degree in psychology or business. Lerma has dreams of becoming a future prosthetist or biomedical engineer.
Receiving this full ride scholarship will alleviate the financial burden on these promising students and their families and allow them to focus on their studies and achieving their goals.
Being selected as finalists for the Questbridge Full Ride Scholarship is not only a testament to the exceptional qualities and potential of these seniors but also the support and guidance they received from their teachers, mentors and families.
They contribute their success throughout their time at CHS to the attention and effort provided by their teachers. “I have had some really good and encouraging teachers,” Gesualdo-Lopez said. “They are very involved and always willing to help.”
The Canutillo Independent School District is proud to have the distinction of having a total of seven Questbridge finalists this year to include the five from CHS and two from Northwest Early College High School. This opportunity is a significant step towards a brighter future for CISD students and their families, and highlights the importance of investing in education and nurturing young talent.
All Finalists who ultimately matriculate to QuestBridge college partners join the QuestBridge Scholars Network, which provides ongoing support and resources through nationwide opportunities and campus communities. QuestBridge also provides enriching programs for their Alumni, including the opportunity to apply for full-tuition scholarships to top business schools through the Graduate School Match: MBA. The QuestBridge Scholars Network and Alumni Association now include over 20,000 current college students and graduates worldwide.
The Canutillo community takes pride in all our finalists’ hard work and dedication and wish them the best of luck in their pursuit of the Questbridge Scholarship and their academic endeavors beyond high school.