Seniors from Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington (from left) Dava Arkoh, Diana Gamoa-Hazou and Dannaite Belay received full, four-year scholarships and will attend Tufts University in Medford, Mass.; Boston College; and Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. COURTESY
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Last month, three seniors at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington were awarded full four-year scholarships through the 2024 QuestBridge National College Match.
The program connects high-achieving high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds with 52 of the nation’s top colleges. Out of over 25,500 applicants, 7,288 were named finalists in October and had the opportunity to rank up to 12 partner colleges. These three O’Connell students — Dava Arkoh, Dannaite Belay and Diana Gamboa-Hazou — are among 2,627 from across the U.S. matched through this program with a college of their choice.
Dava Arkoh matched with Tufts University in Medford, Mass., where she plans on double-majoring in biomedical sciences and brain and cognitive sciences with a minor in food systems and nutrition. She hopes to follow that up with medical school and pursue a career as an anesthesiologist.
“Tufts stood out to me not only as a top school with many opportunities, but also as a school that encourages and celebrates diversity, which is really important to me,” she said. “This award serves as a personal reminder to me that hard work and resilience are key to achieving one’s goals and dreams.”
Dannaite Belay, a graduate of Holy Spirit Catholic School in Annandale, will attend Boston College in the fall, where she plans to study marketing and international relations with a goal of attending law school.
“I want to combine my interest in business and international affairs with a legal career to eventually work in international law,” said Belay. “This award not only opens doors for me academically but also allows me to pursue my dreams without the heavy financial burden.”
Diana Gamboa-Hazou, a graduate of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in Falls Church, is headed to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she plans to study biological sciences or chemistry and minor in global health. Her hope is to go to medical school to become an ER doctor or pediatric oncologist.
“Northwestern really captivated me through their community,” said Gamboa-Hazou. “Going to events and hearing the way the students talked about themselves and their school captivated me, and, of course, Northwestern’s academic rigor and research opportunities piqued my interest.”
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 partner that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies, and travel expenses.
According to QuestBridge, this year’s recipients have an average unweighted GPA of 3.94, and 92 percent are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, with the majority of this year’s Match Scholarship recipients — 83 percent —among the first generation in their families to attend a four-year college in the U.S.
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