NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Newark Board of Education. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.
A dream years in the making has come true for Samuel Da Silva, an East Side High School senior who recently learned he has been accepted to Columbia University on a full scholarship through the prestigious QuestBridge Scholarship Program. The program provides higher education opportunities to high-achieving students from low-income families.
Samuel, 17, who will turn 18 the day after graduation, received a “Likely Letter” from Columbia in January but kept the news to himself until Ivy Day on March 27. While visiting another college out of state, he opened his admissions portal at exactly 7:00 p.m. and was greeted by Columbia’s official congratulations video.
Admission through QuestBridge guaranteed him 100 percent tuition coverage. He was also selected for Columbia’s Academic Success Program (ASP), which covers room and board and includes a summer bridge experience designed to help students transition smoothly to college life.
“To me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Samuel. “It gives me the opportunity to change my family’s trajectory. Coming from immigrant parents, this is the culmination of all the sacrifices they made and all the work I put in. It’s a testament to how consistent hard work pays off – even if the results aren’t immediate.”
“Samuel Da Silva’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Superintendent León. “He represents the very best of Newark’s immigrant community – resilient, hard-working, and full of hope and promise. We could not be prouder of his achievement. Samuel’s acceptance to Columbia University on a full scholarship will transform his life and inspire countless others in our community.”
“Samuel Da Silva’s success is a reminder of what our students are capable of when given the right support and opportunities,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Newark Board of Education. “We celebrate Samuel and look forward to all he will accomplish as he continues to make Newark proud.”
“Samuel Da Silva is an exceptional young man whose humility, curiosity, and quiet determination have always set him apart,” said East Side High School Principal Carlos Rodriguez. “From the classroom to his extracurricular pursuits, he has consistently demonstrated the kind of focus and integrity that make this accomplishment so well deserved. We are incredibly proud of Samuel and know he will thrive at Columbia and beyond.”
Samuel plans to study mechanical engineering, a field that has fascinated him since childhood. “There are videos of me breaking apart toy cars and building bridges with Legos when I was really young,” he said. His curiosity deepened over the years through school, NASA research, and conversations with engineering cousins in Brazil who encouraged his ambitions.
Born at St. James Hospital in the Ironbound section of Newark, Samuel attended Wilson Avenue School. Except for a brief period when his family moved to Newark’s North Ward, Samuel has lived in the Ironbound all his life. His family has roots in Brazil, and his parents immigrated to the United States in the early 2000s. His father works in construction, and his mother cleans houses. “They’ve always supported me,” he said. “This opportunity is for them, too.”
Outside the classroom, Samuel has been involved in NJ LEEP, robotics, and previously Amnesty International. He also finds joy in music, photography, biking, exercising, and occasionally video games. A self-taught pianist, he says these hobbies help keep him grounded and balanced.
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