Next year at this time, if you listen very carefully, you might hear the voice of Branner D’Amato among those screaming during finals week at Davidson College near Charlotte, North Carolina.  The tradition of collectively screaming at midnight on the first day of exams is one of the many unique facets of the college that dates back to 1837. 

 

 It wasn’t D’Amato’s ability to scream, however, that landed him at Davidson.  It was years of academic excellence, community service, professional internships and rigorous curriculum that helped prepare him for the honor of being a QuestBridge Scholarship recipient, earning him a full four-year scholarship worth over $200,000 including his tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies and travel expenses.

 

D’Amato started the QuestBridge process during his junior year at Bridgeport High School.  He secured internships with Thrasher Engineering and Civil & Environmental Consultants, worked part-time, immersed himself in his studies and contributed to helping his community.  He also wrote essays, lots of essays, that told his personal story, his outstanding academic record, and his overall philosophy, all in hopes of matching with one of his college choices.

 

QuestBridge is a non-profit organization that has places over 22,000 finalists in top schools across the nation. They use the services of The National College Match to provide scholarships to those who might otherwise be unable to attend due to financial challenges.  The application process is lengthy and students are not guaranteed to get into their first choices, but the matching process between the 40 top college and university partners and the QuestBridge applicants creates a debt-free, elite opportunity for graduates.

 

Since 1994, QuestBridge has been working with high-achieving students, providing over $2 billion in scholarships.  With a holistic approach, financial need and academic excellence are not the only factors considered for scholarship recipients.  Personal circumstances, community involvement, and strong work ethic are also part of the criteria.  For D’Amato, having a well-rounded experience in high school paid off with the full-ride scholarship to Davidson.

 

Known for having 23 Rhodes Scholars among its graduates and for having top-performing sports teams, Davidson College is located near Charlotte, North Carolina.  Small class sizes, strong student retention, and a wide variety of majors bumped it to one of D’Amato’s top picks.  The liberal arts college promotes creativity, ingenuity, discipline, and leadership among its students through innovative instruction including opportunities to travel abroad and obtain valuable internships.  The school also offers many service opportunities to foster growth and giving.

 

D’Amato was a perfect match for Davidson and is looking forward to the immersive experience next fall. Trading Bridgeport Indians gear for Davidson Wildcat Gear will be a smooth transition for him as he begins a new adventure, hard-earned and very deserved.