BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Two Gatton Academy seniors have gotten full-ride scholarships to two of the most prestigious universities in the country.
Austin Anderson of Bowling Green and Bruno Castaneda of Smithfield are among 2,627 seniors from across the United States and U.S. territories who matched with QuestBridge college partners this year.
Dr. Lynette Breedlove, Director of The Gatton Academy said both students will be outstanding ambassadors for the state.
“They are remarkable young men who are exceptional scholars and contributing community members,” Dr.Breedlove said in a release. “I am grateful for the QuestBridge Scholars Program which invests in promising young people’s future, opening doors that will empower them to further contribute to their home communities.”
Over 25,550 applicants were narrowed down to 7,288 finalists of which 52 college partners selected the final 2,627 matches.
According to the release, applicants are high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with an average unweighted GPA of 3.94 and 89% eligible for Free or Reduced-Price School Meals. The full-ride scholarship not only includes funding for tuition and housing, but also food, books and supplies, travel expenses, and more.
Laura King, Gatton Academy’s College Counseling and Testing Coordinator, shared, “For our students, the transition to college – much like their time at Gatton – is a pivotal stage in their academic and personal journeys. To embark on this next chapter with such generous support from their institutions and through a program that prioritizes access to higher education is an extraordinary accomplishment to witness. We are incredibly proud of these students’ hard work, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make on their respective institutions and beyond.”
Austin Anderson of Bowling Green (Warren Central High School) will be attending Yale University to study applied mathematics where he plans to pursue a career as a mathematics professor.
Bruno Castaneda of Smithfield (Henry County High School) will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study physics where he plans to pursue a career in astrophysics.
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