Arlington Collegiate High School senior Giovanni Roman has earned one of the most prestigious scholarships in the nation: the QuestBridge College Match Scholarship. The award provides him with a full four‑year college education at the University of Notre Dame, including tuition, room and board, medical benefits, and travel expenses.
The QuestBridge scholarship is a highly competitive national program that connects high‑achieving students from low‑income backgrounds with top colleges and universities across the country. For Roman, the opportunity represents more than financial support; it marks a pivotal milestone for both him and his family.
“I saw the QuestBridge program and it covers four years for top schools,” Roman said. “I was really interested in that because it would be life changing, and it would really help out my family a lot with paying for my college.”
Roman first learned about QuestBridge as a junior while researching scholarships. Like many students, his original plan was to stay in Texas.
“Originally I was kind of more committed to applying to TCU and UT Austin, more in‑state schools,” he said. “But I also was planning on applying to a couple of schools like Harvard or Stanford.”
Roman and Counselor Danielle Ealy working on campus.
Arlington Collegiate counselor Danielle Ely helped guide Giovanni through the QuestBridge application process by assisting with recommendations, transcripts, and essay support. Ely said Giovanni stood out early on.
“He’s a leader here on campus. He’s involved in several activities and very influential with his peers,” she said. “He’s a hard‑working student, has a great GPA, and steps out of the box to take initiative.”
Roman said the achievement carried special meaning for his family, and he is especially thankful for support from his mother during his journey to college.
Roman visiting the University of Notre Dame
“Four years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I would have gotten a full ride scholarship to a really good school like Notre Dame,” he said. “It wasn’t just an accomplishment for me, but also for my mother. She put in a lot of work, helping me and supporting me in my academic journey. I really feel like the work that we put in paid off.”
Following his acceptance, Roman recently had the opportunity to visit Notre Dame, where he toured campus and explored student life. During his visit, Roman learned more about student organizations, academic programs, and volunteer opportunities and said he looks forward to getting involved in clubs and activities that align with his interests during his time at Notre Dame.
ACHS principal Jeff Krieger said that Roman’s QuestBridge scholarship has already begun inspiring other students on campus.
“When others see somebody like them earn it, they believe it’s possible for them too,” he said. “Giovanni is the first student at Arlington Collegiate High School to actually receive the QuestBridge scholarship, and when he walks that stage in a few months, we’ll all know that we’ve played a part in his success.”
Roman credits Arlington Collegiate’s close‑knit environment with helping him reach this milestone.
“We’re a smaller school, but everybody knows each other, and we all help each other out,” he said. “That really played a big role in everything I did here.”
A QuestBridge Match, Made to Last. Giovanni Roman and Arlington Collegiate High School Principal, Jeff Krieger
As Roman prepares for his next chapter, he is eager to pursue research, internships, and community service opportunities, all of which play an important role in his goal of attending medical school. Roman hopes his journey encourages other students to take chances on themselves.
“Don’t be scared of applying for big scholarships or big colleges,” he said. “You never know what might happen. You’re more than just what’s on your application.”