Two Nogales High School Nobles Named QuestBridge National College Match Scholars
Mariana Lopez Ruiz and Eridaly Basave Receive Full Rides to Top
Liberal Arts Colleges in the Country
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – APRIL 18, 2024 – For the first time in its history, Nogales High School has not just one, but two seniors in the same year who were awarded prestigious QuestBridge National College Match Scholarships. The program connects high academic achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to 50 of the nation’s best colleges. Nogales High School seniors Mariana Lopez Ruiz and Eridaly Basave have each secured a full four-year college scholarship, estimated at more than $700,000. Mariana Lopez Ruiz will be attending Pomona College, and Eridaly Basave will be attending Claremont McKenna College, both top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Out of 20,800 applicants, QuestBridge selected 6,683 finalists, awarding a total of 2,242 students matched to a college, the highest number to date for QuestBridge. The QuestBridge College Match recipients are students who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges and are awarded early admission and a full four-year scholarship to one of the QuestBridge’s college partners. The generous financial aid package covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies, travel expenses with no parental contributions or student loans.
Mariana Lopez Ruiz remembers the moment her life changed. “I was in my Spanish class and saw the email but didn’t want to open it and start crying! I stepped outside, and when I opened it and saw the confetti, I felt so relieved. I immediately called my mom and sister to tell them I was matched with my top school, Pomona College.” She is passionate about environmental science and is involved in the Environmental Club on campus, as well as Key Club and is President of AP Scholars. In her career Ruiz would love to participate in research with government protected lands.
Eridaly Basave was also in the middle of class when she was notified of winning the QuestBridge Scholarship. “I wanted to open the email with my parents but I just couldn’t wait. I literally screamed in my math class when I opened it up! I had fallen in love with Claremont McKenna when I visited the campus earlier in the year and I got in to my number one match school,” said Basave. “I loved that I could graduate in five years with a Masters and study the humanities at Claremont McKenna and then after three years, go to one of their partners schools such as Columbia University, Harvey Mudd, or Dartmouth to continue my focus on environmental engineering.” Basave is actively involved in the Nogales High School dance team, vice president of the Environmental Club and is vice president of the Student Advocacy Union.
