Minds Matter Southern California Celebrates Three New QuestBridge Scholars

Minds Matter Southern California is proud to announce that three of our senior students have been named QuestBridge Scholars, earning full four-year scholarships to some of the nation’s most selective colleges and universities.

This year’s Scholars will attend:

• Amherst College – ranked #2 nationally among liberal arts colleges
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – ranked #2 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, consistently among the world’s top universities in STEM, business, and innovation
• Pomona College – ranked #7 nationally among liberal arts colleges

QuestBridge scholarships cover 100% of demonstrated financial need, offering students not only access to higher education but a pathway to opportunity, community, and long-term success. For our Scholars—each of whom has spent three years in the Minds Matter program—this achievement reflects extraordinary academic excellence, personal resilience, and the power of sustained mentorship.

Minds Matter Southern California provides a rigorous, tuition-free college access and success program for driven and determined students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. Through weekly mentorship, academic instruction, and college preparation, we equip students to navigate the complex journey to and through college—with a commitment that now extends beyond admission. We also work closely with all of our students on scholarships and financial aid, ensuring they can pursue higher education without carrying a heavy financial burden.

As we expand to a seven-year model, Minds Matter SoCal will deepen our support for students through college graduation and into early-career pathways, offering guidance on campus life, internships, and professional development. Our goal is to ensure that talent and ambition—not circumstance—define a student’s trajectory, and that every step is supported by trusted guidance.

This milestone brings Minds Matter SoCal’s total to 17 QuestBridge Scholars in the past six years—a testament to the dedication of our students and the commitment of our volunteers, who walk alongside them from sophomore year through college matriculation. Together, they tackle college applications, personal statements, academics, and the courageous process of claiming their future—building confidence, capacity, and community.

Visit our website for more information about Minds Matter Southern California, our programming, volunteering opportunities, and donations: https://mindsmattersocal.org/.