WATCH: KENS 5 Kids Who Make San Antonio Great

Through the QuestBridge National College Match program, student María García-García has been matched with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she plans to study computer science and electrical engineering next fall. García-García is a student at Young Women's Leadership Academy.

The QuestBridge National College Match program is a college and scholarship application process that helps outstanding, low-income high school seniors gain admission and full, four-year scholarships to the nation’s most selective colleges.

“I was blown away when I found out,” said María. “I was in shock! I ran out of the room and ran to all of my teachers to tell them.”

Out of 14,926 applicants this year, QuestBridge selected 5,842 finalists who were considered for the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. Of these finalists, 1,127 outstanding students were selected as this year’s Match Scholarship Recipients. This is the highest number of Match Scholarship Recipients to-date for QuestBridge.

María wants to study electrical engineering and computer science in a dual program at MIT.

“The more I learn about MIT, the more I like them,” she said. “Not only are they number one in the nation for the two programs I am interested in, but the community there is really strong. People are there to help each other learn and collaborate and engage with each other so we can make the world a better place.”

The QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the nation’s best colleges that covers the cost of attendance including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, as well as travel expenses. All Match Scholarship packages need no parental contribution or student loans. Some packages may contain a student contribution in the form of federal work-study, summer work, or student savings.

Ashley Cash, counselor at YWLA and coach of the school’s Robotics Team of which María is a member, has spent many hours with the senior.

“This is a really amazing accomplishment,” said Cash. “They chose a really wonderful student to join them and I cannot think of a student who would be a better fit. I think she is going to be very successful on the MIT campus.”