ROWLAND UNIFIED ANNOUNCES NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS GATES SCHOLARSHIP
Gates Scholar Juan Fregoso Receives Full Scholarship to Harvard University
LA PUENTE, CA – MAY 30, 2024 – For the ninth time, the prestigious Gates Scholarship has been awarded to a Nogales High School senior in the Rowland Unified School District. Juan Fregoso will be attending Harvard University and is one of only 300 students chosen from across the nation for this highly selective scholarship for outstanding low-income, minority students that provides full college funding to the college of their choice. In addition, the scholarship provides mentoring and networking resources for their entire college experience through graduation and the transition to their chosen careers.
“My dream has been to attend Harvard University and I was pretty scared at opening the email. My heart was bumping and felt like it was going to jump out of my chest! When I saw the word congratulations, the first emotion I felt was relief that all my efforts made it to fruition. It was really amazing and a beautiful experience that my whole family was there,” said Fregoso, whose family lives in La Puente, CA. “I am most excited about the people I am going to meet at Harvard. They have some of the greatest minds in the country and I am going to be with them!” Fregoso will major in economics at Harvard.
Fregoso is an International Baccaulaureate (IB) student at Nogales High School and is involved in the school’s Student Advocacy Union. During his junior year, Fregoso was selected as a Thrive Scholar, another prestigious accolade with admission into the Thrive Summer Academy for two summers at top colleges in the nation. Last summer he was able to live and study on the campus of Amherst College in Massachusetts for six weeks, learning from college professors with intense studies in math and writing and experience college advising support.
While he may be driven in the field of academics, it is his focus on the sports field that sets him apart. To say Fregoso is a soccer enthusiast is an understatement, it is his passion and purpose. His dad, brothers and family love the sport and he has played since he was 5 years old. Fregoso is on the MLS NEXT soccer league where he travels across the country. He is thankful for his involvement in the Yours in Soccer Foundation that has inspired him to give back. Fregoso’s dream is to also start a non-profit with his brother that helps low-income students experience the joy of soccer. Fregoso is thrilled for the opportunity to try out for Harvard’s team.
When asked what inspires him, he smiles. “My faith has always been at the helm of my life because of my parents and gave me the purpose to be a positive impact on others. By being the best version of myself I can be, I can bring out the best in others. This is my responsibility, not a motivation.”
Nogales High School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that also offers a unique Career Certification Program for students. It is a four-year comprehensive high school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Each year, graduates receive millions of dollars in grants and scholarships and attend the top colleges and universities. Nogales High School is located at 401 S. Nogales Street, La Puente. For more information, call (626)965-3437 or visit www.nogaleshs.org.