ne accomplished member of the Tallulah Falls School Class of 2021 will continue her education at Washington & Lee University, thanks to a full, four-year scholarship from QuestBridge.
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Mimi-Ama “Mia” Kwarteng of Snellville is thrilled to join an elite group of high-achieving seniors as a QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship recipient. “It has boosted my self-confidence,” Kwarteng said. “When the pandemic hit, I lowered my expectations. I didn’t think I could do what was possible.” After going through the extensive application process, she realized a dream. The child of immigrant parents, Kwarteng’s journey has not been smooth; she and her mom were struggling financially for a time after her parents divorced. The QuestBridge scholarship was among 60 applications Kwarteng completed; she knew if she wanted to continue her education, it would be up to her to earn money to attend.
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After making it through the first round, she had to see if she would be a match for any of the 12 schools she selected as part of the application. “That’s when it really hit me,” she said. “I wanted to get to the second stage.”
at Washington & Lee and then apply to Rice University for a master’s degree. Eventually, she wants to work on manufacturing prosthetics for individuals with disabilities. Her mother and older sister helped her throughout the process. “She [mother Matilda Arhin] really supported me. She was even more optimistic than I was. I didn’t have much confidence,” she said. “’You should try,’ she told me.” She’s also grateful for the support of her faculty and staff members, especially Academic Dean Kim Popham, College Counselor Dr. Brandy Corbett, School Counselor Michelle Barron, Registrar Katie Keister and teachers Dallas Barron and Dr. Lynda Jenkins. “Mia is an exceptional emerging scholar,” Jenkins said. “Mia is a young woman who continually pushes herself to excel in everything she pursues. She is a delight to work with. She brings humor and positivity to class every day. I truly cannot wait to see what the future holds for this remarkable young woman.” Another QuestBridge scholar, TFS Class of 2019 member Nyah Williams added her support to this year’s honoree. Williams is studying at the University of Pennsylvania.
“I was crying and screaming,” Kwarteng said.
“As a recipient of the QuestBridge National College Match, I’ve had firsthand experience on how this scholarship opportunity is such a weight lifted off the shoulders of college students,” Williams said. “It allows high-achieving students to focus on their schoolwork and delve into every aspect of the college experience without a financial burden, and I could not think of anyone more deserving than Mia. She will have complete freedom to follow any career path she wishes at an excellent university while being fully supported by QuestBridge. I cannot imagine college without this program, and I am so excited for Mia also to have this opportunity.
She plans to study biomedical engineering
Welcome to the family, and good luck!”
It was nerve-wracking, she said, because, during the application process, the storms last fall caused issues with wi-fi, further complicating an already stressful process. On the day the matches were announced, she was too nervous to open the online portal, she said. Her friend Kally Momoh read the good news to her.
QuestBridge, a national nonprofit based in Palo Alto, California, connects the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with leading institutions of higher education and further life opportunities. By recruiting, developing, and motivating these students — beginning in high school through college to their early career — QuestBridge aims to help talented low-income students attend the nation’s best colleges and to support them to achieve success in their respective careers and communities. Out of over 18,500 applicants, QuestBridge selected 6,885 Finalists to be considered for the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship (Match Scholarship). This year, QuestBridge’s 42 college partners matched with a record number of 1,464 Finalists, who are recognized as Match Scholarship Recipients.
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