FUHS students selected as finalists in QuestBridge National College Match - Maria Luna awarded four-year scholarship to Brown University

Every student with dreams of attending a four-year university hopes to be told that they have been selected for a full ride scholarship to the school of their choice, but it rarely happens. However, for one Fallbrook senior, that dream has become a reality.

Maria Luna and Sofia Cruz, both 17-year-old seniors at Fallbrook Union High School, were given information about QuestBridge, a platform that was developed to help students link to colleges, scholarship programs, and organizations that are looking for exceptional students.

“We both heard about it the same way: from our AVID teacher in our junior year,” said Luna. “There are two separate programs, with a Questbridge for both juniors and seniors.”

Various awards through the programs included trips to conferences at various universities, laptops, and a college match for a select few students.

“We both entered the college match, and it was nerve-wracking,” said Luna.

The girls had to select colleges, ranking their top eight choices, and submit all of the information required, including letters of recommendation, financial information and applications similar to those of Ivy League universities. Soon, the girls discovered that they had both been selected as finalists in the program’s college match.

For Cruz, though the experience of being selected as a finalist was exciting, she was not matched.

Cruz, who hopes to attend an Ivy League school, has applied to Yale, Brown, Stanford, Princeton and USC, and is able to forward her QuestBridge application to most universities.

Luna, however, was informed that she had been matched with Brown University, her third choice.

“I had gone with Stanford, Yale, then Brown. I was shocked, and I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was in the Career Center when I found out, with Ms. Karen Ricci, the college and career counselor, and we hugged and screamed for a bit. Then I called my mom, and told her I would be moving to Rhode Island for four years.”

Cruz and Luna, who have been friends since kindergarten, were there to encourage each other throughout the entire process.

“We have almost all the same classes, including AVID and AP classes, except for two,” said Cruz. “I’m proud of Maria because I can say I know someone who got a full ride scholarship. When we found out, we went to celebrate by watching a movie at the Bonsall theater.”

“It’s the first time [Fallbrook High School] has had a semi-finalist, much less two finalists,” said Ricci. “They’re great kids – wonderful and sweet. They really stretched and reached outside of their comfort zone, which is something a lot won’t do. The program is difficult, very comprehensive, with an early deadline. They got on top of it right away.”

Ricci stated that though she announced the program to all seniors, she is uncertain how many students applied.

“It’s really an accomplishment to be selected by a nationwide program as a semi-finalist,” said Ricci. “These girls are so special, and we are very proud of them.”

Both Cruz and Luna hope to study biology, with Luna planning to become a neonatologist and Cruz planning to become a trauma surgeon.

“I like anatomy and physiology, and knowing about body parts,” said Cruz, who has older siblings already attending college.

For Luna, the oldest child in her family and the first to attend college, the interest developed in junior high when she attended a career day presentation by a neonatologist.

“I listened to presentations by an FBI agent, a musician, and a neonatologist, and when I listened, it clicked. I knew what I wanted; I wanted to help babies.”

High school students who are interested in discovering more about potential careers and college should visit the career center, said Ricci.

“This is a very busy place, with lots of students coming in,” she said. “They feel comfortable because they know there are no stupid questions, and they can feel comfortable dreaming.”

For more information about QuestBridge, go to

http://www.questbridge.org. For more information about other programs available, visit the Fallbrook Union High School Career Center, or contact Karen Ricci at [email protected].

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