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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2014 Media Contact: Heather Eldon, 503.353.1441, heldon@lsprep.org
LOCAL STUDENT EARNS $270,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP TO USC Milwaukie, Ore. - La Salle senior Jacque Breunig from Milwaukie received a full four-year college scholarship valued at $270,000 to attend the University of Southern California (USC) in fall 2014. Breunig, whose dream is to become a doctor, shared her excitement about the scholarship, “I can’t believe this is happening! This completely takes away all my worries about college. A top school sees something special in me,” she said. La Salle counselor Nancy Orr nominated Breunig for the highly competitive QuestBridge National College Match scholarship. “She is brilliant and motivated. The nomination and application process is arduous, but the payoff is huge! ” Orr explained. The aspiring doctor plans to specialize in the competitive field of biomedical engineering (BME). Breunig is interested in treating patients and researching autoimmune diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), the most common fatal childhood genetic disorder. In fact, Portland’s Oregon Health & Science University is conducting clinical trials to improve diagnosis and treatment of DMD, with approximately 20,000 new cases every year, mostly in boys. Beyond her formal education goals, Breunig hopes to volunteer with the international relief organization, Doctors without Borders, so that she may use her gifts to serve those in crisis. Breunig was among only 440 American high school seniors awarded a QuestBridge full ride scholarship to 35 partner colleges, a collection of the most selective universities in the nation. She competed with nearly 5,000 finalists and was selected from almost 13,000 applicants. She was among eight finalists to be matched with USC. The selection criterion focuses on academic performance, financial need and personal factors. La Salle Catholic College Preparatory, a co-ed high school founded in 1966, develops students of faith, service and scholarship by providing a transformative education allowing students to realize their maximum potential and use their gifts to serve Christ and humankind. The school optimizes financial and academic accessibility for students, especially the underserved, who desire a rigorous and relevant education preparing them for college and life.
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