East Hartford High School senior Chimuanya Chukwuocha has been admitted to Pomona College and awarded a full, four-year QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. On receiving news of the scholarship, Chimuanya said, “I constantly find myself in awe. Many times, I open my application portal and read my acceptance letter from Pomona College over and over again to reassure myself that this is real. What I have prayed for and now accomplished wasn't all a dream.”
Match Scholarship Recipients are admitted early to QuestBridge college partners with full four-year scholarships provided by the colleges and universities, ensuring for these students and their families that an education at a top college is affordable. The Match Scholarship is made up of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies, and travel expenses.
“The joy I have brought to my household is truly indescribable, and the effect QuestBridge has had on my overall perception of my future has been altered forever,” Chimuanya added.
Chimuanya is the Vice President of her senior class, an active member of the National Honor Society, and has competed in Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field all four years of high school. She has lived in East Hartford and attended East Hartford Public Schools for nine years. She plans to study Cognitive Science and Statistics at Pomona.
She said, “I have found tremendous support in the school system. Our curriculum always succeeded in giving me a challenge due to the variety of academic course offerings. My community has encouraged me to explore, think creatively, and find my niche. Providing these resources has helped me stand out in my college applications.”
Out of over 20,800 applicants, QuestBridge selected 6,683 Finalists to be considered for the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship (Match Scholarship). This year, QuestBridge’s 50 college partners matched with 2,242 Finalists, who are recognized as Match Scholarship Recipients.
Chimuanya said, "When I was introduced to QuestBridge in my junior year by my college and career counselor, I saw an opportunity worth striving for. I first applied to the Questbridge College Prep Scholars program and was thrilled to be selected. It was just the type of encouragement I needed to apply for the National Match Scholarship. I began to see a path for me to attend and use the resources of a top university without worrying about how to afford it."
About QuestBridge:
QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further life opportunities. By recruiting, developing, and motivating these students — beginning in high school through college to their early career — QuestBridge aims to help talented students attend the nation’s best colleges and to support them to achieve success in their respective careers and communities.