TEMPLE, Texas — A Temple High School junior is one of fewer than 4,000 students across the United States to be selected for the QuestBridge College Prep Scholar Program in 2024.
Temple ISD announced that Temple High junior Megan Ortiz had been selected for the prestigious program after having been notified of her selection earlier in April.
The QuestBridge College Prep Scholar Program is meant to "equip high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence and resources to apply to top colleges," said TISD.
According to TISD, Ortiz will be attending a National College Admissions Conference at Rice University in June as part of her acceptance into the program, which is meant to provide attendees with the opportunity to "discuss strategies for preparing strong college applications, discover the full benefit of top colleges’ financial aid policies, engage directly with QuestBridge college partner admissions officers, attend a college fair to get to know QuestBridge’s college partners and to interact with students from around the country with similar backgrounds and aspirations."
TISD said Ortiz will also have access to an exclusive college essay workshop, campus visits from QuestBridge college partners, specialized guidance and resources for the college application process and peer-to-peer support in an online community.
“I almost passed out when I found out because I couldn’t believe they had picked me,” Ortiz said. “I hope this program will help me better understand how to get ready for college and learn more about scholarships. I think this is a great opportunity for students who really need the help and I am excited to be chosen.”
Ortiz is active in the Rotary program, National Honor Society and the Temple High chapter of the FFA, said TISD. During the "detailed" application process, she reportedly completed several essays and provided financial information.
TISD stated Ortiz hopes to attend Texas Tech University and major in veterinary radiology but is also looking forward to learning about other options that might be available through the QuestBridge program.
“She is a very driven individual and all I had to do was remind her to follow through on her application,” said Temple High School counselor Melanie Camacho-Suarez. “She took care of everything required for the application process, so all of the credit for her selection goes to her.”
By being selected for the program, Ortiz will also have a head start on QuestBridge's National College Match program, said TISD. Another Temple High student, Edgar Saldivar, earned a full scholarship to Boston University through the National College Match program in December.
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