Church Farm School senior Achylles Farias was recently one of three scholars that learned that he was named a QuestBridge National College Match finalist. QuestBridge, like Church Farm School, is a nonprofit organization that “grew from a core belief that all students deserve to reach their full potential, regardless of their financial background.” Following a rigorous application process, QuestBridge National College Match finalists are announced in October; of the 25,500 applications this year, 7,288 students were selected. The finalists then choose up to 15 esteemed national colleges and universities they wish to match with, submit additional materials and, if matched, receive a full, four-year scholarship. Since 2015, 16 CFS students have been named National College Match Finalists, with seven seniors matched and receiving full rides to Princeton, Brown, Tufts, Williams, Vassar, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago.

Achylles came to Church Farm School as a junior from Brazil. “My plan was always to come the United States for college. My uncle [Darshan Dohle ‘94] told me that Church Farm School was a great school that would give me a lot of financial aid and help me get into a good college.” A strong student in math, physics and philosophy, Achylles was used to attending private school, which is the more common option in his home country, and being the “new kid” at school. “The only weird thing was speaking English regularly,” he says. In addition to Portuguese and English, Achylles speaks “some basic Spanish.”

Achylles has integrated into the CFS community very quickly; he did a standout guitar solo during last spring’s Music and Art Spring Celebration, played the National Anthem on guitar at the senior soccer ceremony and was appointed President of the Church Farm School National Honor Society after being inducted last spring. Over the summer, he studied physics at the University of Pennsylvania through the Student Diplomacy Corps, an opportunity funded by a generous alumnus. He hopes to match with one of his top choice schools – MIT, Yale and Columbia – and continue to pursue his interest in physics.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our scholars being named as finalists to QuestBridge’s National College Match. Like Church Farm School, QuestBridge offers a life-changing opportunity to get an extraordinary education at low or no cost to families,” says Scott.  

To view Church Farm School’s profile and the matriculations of graduates since 2020, click here.