Church Farm School senior Hector Audelo Gutierrez 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.

Hector learned about SEEDS, a local community-based organization near his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, in seventh grade and applied. Through SEEDS and their mission to pair bright, underserved young people with private schools, Hector and his family hoped to realize his goal of pursing medicine. He visited Church Farm School in spring 2021 and liked the campus and sense of community. “Although I do complain, I agree with everyone who leaves saying how much they miss the brotherhood. You can make some pretty close friends here.”

Hector serves as a prefect in Garrett Cottage, was inducted into the National Honors Society last spring and is proud that the varsity soccer team made it into the playoffs for the first time in several years. It was following the senior soccer ceremony – which his family attended – that he saw a notification come in from QuestBridge. He was delighted to be able to open the email during dinner with his family and share in the great news that he was a finalist. His top three choices are Johns Hopkins University, Bowdoin College and Boston University. His dream continues to be to study medicine, although he’s not yet sure which specialty interests him the most. “Since I was small, I’ve always been adamant about wanting to help others.”

“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.