Gerardo Villarreal is one of four students from McAllen ISD to earn a prestigious QuestBridge scholarship.
Villarreal, who attends McAllen High School, is one of nearly 21,000 applicants nationwide. Fewer than 7,000 (6,683) became National College Match Finalists. From there, only a portion of finalists are matched with a college partner and receive a “full ride” through the match scholarship which includes full tuition, housing, food, books, supplies and travel expenses.
The other three students from McAllen ISD are Grace Sihn of McAllen High, Eduardo Cavazos of Achieve Early College High and Fernanda Guerrero of McAllen Memorial High who is in the McAllen ISD International Baccalaureate Programme based at Lamar Academy.
The QuestBridge scholarship is a non-profit organization that connects high-achieving, low-income students with educational opportunities at partner colleges and universities.
Villarreal plans to major in chemistry at Rice University in Houston and go into either pharmacy or a medical-related field.
“McAllen ISD has taught me what it means to be part of something,” Villarreal said. “Not a club or a friend group, but rather a community that accepted me for who I was, flaws and all. This community showed me to be perseverant and strive to be the best in any realm of endeavor presented before me.”
At McAllen High, he is active in cross country, track, Health Occupations Students of America, Superintendent’s Student Ambassadors and National Honor Society.
“This recent achievement can be credited to the combined efforts of, not only my will and character, but also the support from my counselors, faculty, teachers, peers and parents,” he said. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunities McAllen ISD has given me.”