LIVINGSTON, La. – Two high-achieving high school seniors in Livingston Parish who come from low-income backgrounds have been awarded full four-year scholarships to two of the nation’s top colleges as part of the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship Program.
Asia Cox, a senior at Springfield High School, has been matched with the University of Chicago; while Khadija Henni, a senior at Denham Springs High School, has been matched with Northwestern University in Chicago.
Both students will receive a generous financial aid package provided by their match college that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies, and travel expenses. The match scholarship does not include loans or a parental contribution.
The students selected for the Match Scholarship Program have an average unweighted GPA of 3.94, and 92% are in the top 10% of their graduating class. Around 91% come from a household with an annual income under $65,000 and 89% qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
Cox has a 4.16 GPA, and she scored a 30 on the ACT. She demonstrates leadership through her roles in the school’s Leadership Council, VEX Robotics and the BETA Club, where she serves as lead programmer.
Cox has a passion for technology that she says was sparked by a childhood interest in video games. She is very involved in her computer science activities, which include programming and hardware projects with the goal of launching her own application this school year. She also has an interest in psychology and wants to integrate psychological insights into her tech projects to create algorithms that foster genuine connections.
She has earned several accolades, including the AP Scholar with Honors distinction and recognition from the National First-Generation Recognition Program.
“Congratulations to Asia on her accomplishments. She already represents our school as the Springfield High School Student of the Year, and this scholarship is possibly the largest ever awarded to one of our students,” Springfield High School Principal Jillian Dupuy said. “We are so proud of the work she is doing to secure a bright future.”
Henni has a 4.0+ GPA across all her high school classes, which include 16 Advanced Placement classes. She is president and founder of the Debate/MUN Club and the DECA State Vice President of Finance and Career Development. She has won numerous DECA competitions.
Although Henni was born and raised in Louisiana, her parents are from Algeria. She has traveled abroad to Algeria and Azerbaijan to participate in leadership or intern programs. She also founded an international leadership organization which has representatives from more than 60 countries, and she is editor-in-chief of an international multilingual advocacy publication based in Europe.
“My mother always told me to focus on my studies and achieve the goals that I have set for myself. It seems general, but her persistence and support are truly the only reason I will be attending a top six university in the country,” Henni said.
“If I had one thing to say to the next generation of students in Denham or even Livingston Parish, it's to focus on yourself and what YOU want,” she said. “Don't let others’ opinions get in the way of that because if I did, I don't know where I would be."
QuestBridge announced that 2,627 high school seniors across the nation have been matched with scholarships to 52 of the nation’s top colleges. These students will be admitted early to their matched school.
According to QuestBridge, 83% of this year’s Match Scholarship recipients are among first generation college attendees.
“By connecting students from low-income backgrounds with a thriving community and transformative educational, career, and life opportunities, QuestBridge helps propel them to lives of fulfillment, meaning, and purpose,” said Ana Rowena Mallari, QuestBridge co-founder and CEO.
“Our programs aim to bridge these gaps so that our students can access the opportunities they deserve throughout their lives. While we recognize that we cannot influence every single aspect of the lives of our Scholars and Alumni, we will do all that we can to support them towards thriving now and in their bright futures,” Mallari added.
