Two Summit High School seniors and three from Henry J. Kaiser High School are a step closer to earning a full-ride scholarship to a college or university after being named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists.
The QuestBridge National College Match is a college admission and scholarship process through which high-achieving, low-income students can be admitted early with full four-year scholarships to QuestBridge college partners.
Dec. 1 is Match Day, when finalists find out if they have been chosen by a QuestBridge college partner.
Summit High School finalists Gabriel Rodriguez Cortez and Joleen Wardeh and Kaiser High School finalists David Aguilar, Marco Garcia and Sonia Heyer are among nearly 7,000 students across the United Stateschosen as finalists and among nearly a dozen finalists from the Fontana Unified School District, according to a news release.
Gabriel Rodriguez Cortez plans to study electrical engineering and hopes to develop new technology for space exploration and other applications. He is a member of Summit’s Positive Minds club, has been an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student since freshman year, serves as secretary for the National Honor Society and is a member of Chemistry Club.
Joleen Wardeh is a Syrian-American first-generation college student who hopes to major in human biology,then attend medical school and become a physician specializing in internal medicine. She serves as a Link Leader for Summit’s Link Crew, and is a member of Summit’s Positive Minds club, volunteering at elementary schools on weekends and acting as treasurer during junior year.
David Aguilar Aguilar plans to study political science in college and become a politician, serving as a voice for the unheard, according to the news release. He plays in the Kaiser Catamount Pride Band and Color Guard and has been selected to play in the Tournament of Roses Honor Band, the San Bernardino County Basin Honor Band and the John Phillip Sousa Honor Band at Riverside City College. He also serves as a senior representative in the California Scholarship Federation and member of the National Honor Society.
Marco Garcia plans to major in biology and attend medical school. He serves as a section leader and vice president in the Kaiser Catamount Pride Band and Color Guard, as well as first chair in the wind ensemble. He has also played in the San Bernardino County Basin Honor Band for three years and the John Phillip Sousa Honor Band in his sophomore year. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club and Academic Decathlon team.
Sonia Heyer hopes to study digital humanities or psychology in college. She is an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student who plays tennis, mentors her peers in Link Crew, plays in the orchestra and is a member of Key Club, National Honor Society and the Early Academic Outreach Program.
