3 SIS students named Questbridge finalists

Saipan International School seniors Frederic “Mac” Guintu, Cindy Kim, and Oliver Lee were named finalists for the QuestBridge scholarship last week after completing and submitting an extensive application packet.

“It was surreal and sort of relieving,” Kim said of her finalist selection.

QuestBridge connected SIS graduate Malika Miyawaki last year with a full scholarship to Emory University. This year Miyawaki encouraged the seniors to apply despite the rigor of the application process. “Thanks to Malika’s encouragement, I was able to recognize my talents and that I could accomplish something as amazing as she did,” Guintu said.

The QuestBridge National College Match is a national program that connects high-achieving high school seniors with full four-year scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. This year, out of over 18,000 applications, 6,885 students were selected as National College Match Finalists. Finalists exhibit outstanding academic achievement and qualify financially.

“I did not expect this at all,” Lee said about his candidacy. “It took some time to understand the process, but because of QuestBridge it will make the rest of my application process easier if this does not work out,” he added.

Finalists are selected by QuestBridge and will be considered by multiple college partners of their choice to be “matched” — admitted early with a Match Scholarship from the college. Finalists who are not matched have additional admission opportunities through QuestBridge and can receive financial aid packages that are often as generous as a full scholarship.

If picked as a Match Scholarship Recipient, students are admitted early to QuestBridge college partners with full four-year scholarships provided by the colleges and universities. The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses.

Now the finalists must finish up any specific requirements for the schools on their list they hope to match with. “I’m finalizing my last supplements and then I just have to wait for my results to come in December.” Guintu said.

“Mac, Cindy, and Oliver are all deserving of this great honor,” SIS counselor Whit Altizer said. “We are excited to see where their path takes them in the future and we are hopeful that the QuestBridge schools will recognize their hard work and potential.” (PR)