(Wednesday, August 23, 2023, Carrollton, Georgia). Central High School 2021 graduate, Naomi Norbraten, stopped by to speak with juniors and seniors about her college experience.

Early in 2020 Naomi was awarded a full academic scholarship to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She is currently in her junior year of study toward her degree in astrophysics and molecular biology.

Naomi was the recipient of a QuestBridge award.

QuestBridge is a national non-profit program based in Palo Alto, California, that connects exceptional, high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. By recruiting, developing, and motivating these students, QuestBridge aims to help talented students attend the nation’s best colleges and to support them to achieve success in their respective careers and communities.

Naomi was born in Miami, Florida and moved to Carrollton when she was 10 years old. She enjoys reading, sewing and cooking. Naomi was an active member of the Drama Club and Academic Team. One of her favorite pastimes is stargazing and keeping track of constellation cycles, planet positions and meteor showers. While in high school she maintained the top spot in her class, graduating as the class valedictorian.

One of the students attending the meeting with Naomi had this to say, “Listening to her experience, learning details about the path she took and knowing where she is now really gave me the feeling that I could be successful through QuestBridge.” Emanuel Armira continued, “As a junior I’m ready to take that next step, going to one of our countries best academic institutions has always been a dream of mine. QuestBridge truly opens the door for students like me to have a better opportunity to find a prestigious college that suits me.”

Central High School Principal Mr. Kelly Edwards said, “What a great experience for our students! Naomi spent time sharing how she entered the QuestBridge program, was accepted into Yale, and then gave students insight into her move from Carrollton to Connecticut. You can’t ask for a better way for students to learn about the steps to take as they become enrolled in the college or university of their choice.”