The doors of opportunity have opened wide for two Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) seniors, Yahjairi Castillon and Omar Gomez Rodriguez, who have each received four-year QuestBridge National College Match scholarships.

QuestBridge is a national non-profit organization that connects exceptional young people from low-income families with top colleges. In 2020, they received 16,500 applications from across the country, of which 1,647 students were matched to colleges and received scholarships.

On the recommendation of Elizabeth Penzel, RFHS advisor, Castillon and Rodriguez submitted applications at the end of September. Criteria for awarding scholarships include grades, test scores, and an application with written essays, completed short-answer questions, and teacher recommendations. They are also considering participation in school and community activities.

“Colleges are looking to see you not just as a student, but as a whole, and they want to see your involvement in the community. They want to see that you are well-rounded and will be able to contribute to their college, ”Castillon said.

On November 1, the scholarship finalists were notified. At this point, students have chosen and ranked their college preferences from participating schools in QuestBridge. Then, on December 1, they learned which college had accepted them as a match. Castillon is a member of the National Honor Society, was president of the Student Council and mentored first year students as part of the Link Leaders program. She was also a goaltender for the Rams lacrosse team.

Castillon has twinned with Claremont McKenna College in California, where she plans to study international relations. “I would like to help communities that need it,” she told Sopris Sun. “I think if I were to get into a government major then I would be able to do it.” She also intends to continue playing lacrosse.

When she and her family were informed of the scholarship award, “we were all very happy. We were screaming, ”she said.

Rodriguez is also a student council member, member of the National Honor Society, peer tutor, and participates in the Valley’s Buddy program.

He has twinned with Colorado College in Colorado Springs and will be majoring in Biology to pursue a career in the medical field.

Rodriguez said: “My family is very supportive of me, especially my mom always wanted the best for my siblings and me to pursue higher education and help each other.”

Castillon and Rodriguez are both Roaring Fork PreCollegiate Fellows, which, according to the local nonprofit website, is “college access and a preparatory program for highly motivated students who would be the first in their family. to go to university “.

Together, the two launched the RFHS Student Equity Council this school year, where students talk about making RFHS a more welcoming environment for all students.

Castillon said the club’s formation grew out of a forum hosted last year, facilitated by RFHS English teacher Carmen McCracken. Castillon noted, “the professor suggested that we start a club to keep this conversation going.”

She explained, “It’s not just about having diversity, it’s also about being inclusive,” adding, “It’s about promoting conversations about race, gender and sexuality, and all these topics that a lot of people don’t like to talk about. “

Some students may find the task of applying for scholarships daunting. Castillon and Rodriguez encourage others to do so. As Rodriguez shared, “I would say take the risk, because you never know.”

Castillon’s advice: “Dream big, even if you don’t think it’s possible. I didn’t think I was going to get this scholarship at all. Do not think that it is not possible, just because there is a chance that it is. She ended with: “There is nothing like hoping. “