VRHS math teacher Janene Browning, VRHS Senior Rigo Valdez, VRHS Principal Dr. Mike Bedosky

Villa Rica High School senior Rigo Valdez has been awarded a full four-year scholarship to Columbia University in New York City valued at over $325,000 through the QuestBridge National College Match.

Quest Bridge’s National College Match helps students who are planning to attend college the fall after graduation, earn primarily A’s in the most rigorous and challenging courses that are offered, and demonstrate strong writing skills and intellectual curiosity. For 2024, over 25,500 applications were submitted. From that number, 2,627 scholarship recipients were matched with 52 of the nation’s top colleges.

Valdez’s Match Scholarship is made up of a generous financial aid package provided by Columbia University 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. Valdez plans to study mechanical or aerospace engineering.

“I have had the pleasure of teaching Rigo for three years,” VRHS math teacher Janene Browning said. “As a freshman, I quickly recognized that he was sound in his mathematical thinking. To no surprise, he has excelled each year and has become quite the math student. I enjoyed watching him grow in his mathematical connections to the other subjects, but the most exciting part was watching his inner desire to know and understand grow.” 

Villa Rica High School Principal Dr. Mike Bedosky said Valdez is a leader outside the classroom, as well. 

“Rigo is always present and available to help and support the school. I do not believe that I have ever seen him without a smile on his face, ready to take on the world,” Bedosky said. “Rigo will make an impact wherever he goes and whatever he does. He is an outstanding young man.” 

Since 2003, the QuestBridge National College Match has successfully connected over 17,000 students with full scholarships at college partners. These 2024 Match Scholarship Recipients including Valdez become the first QuestBridge Scholars for the Class of 2029. More Finalists are admitted to college partners through QuestBridge Regular Decision or other admission rounds.

All Finalists who ultimately matriculate to QuestBridge college partners join the QuestBridge Scholars Network, which connects students to a community of peers from a similar background. QuestBridge also provides enriching programs for its Alumni, including the opportunity to apply for full-tuition scholarships to top business schools through the Graduate School Match: MBA. The QuestBridge Scholars Network and Alumni Association now include over 30,000 current college students and graduates worldwide. 

Students interested in being matched with schools such as Boston College, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, Dartmouth College Vanderbilt University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Princeton University through QuestBridge should visit questbridge.org.