Senior Jihoo Han was selected as a 2024 QuestBridge National College Match with Cornell University. The program “connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to 52 of the nation’s top colleges.” Han was one of 25,500 applicants, then narrowed down to 7,288 finalists this year and chosen in a group of 2,627 students that matched with a university. According to QuestBridge, this was the highest number of recipients to date.
Han plans to major in Human Development at Cornell University, a school founded in 1865, with the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Han explained, “They offer a wide range of programs. There is a lot of flexibility to immerse yourself with rigorous academics but also a wide range of niche classes.” He plans to go into the Pre-Medical field with the ultimate goal of becoming a Physician.
Han shared what the moment was like when he discovered that he was a QuestBridge Scholarship Match. “I got an email on my phone and I went with my mom to check it. There was confetti everywhere on the email and it was very exciting. My mom called my dad and my grandparents told everyone,” reflected Han.
Han weighed in on advice for being selected as a QuestBridge Scholarship Match, “Definitely throughout high school, you want to work very hard academically. Engage yourself in extracurricular activities that you’re passionate about, it’s about quality and not quantity. You also want to be involved in the community. You need to write good essays that truly narrate your life. Everyone has a different life. You want to illustrate that life.”
Han has been involved in several extracurricular activities throughout his years at La Mirada High School. He is a part of the Ambassador’s Club, he tutors students, volunteers at a facility with patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, he shadowed a family practice doctor over the summer, he is on the Matador Scholar Academy (MSA) Board, Interact Board, the Red Cross Club, has volunteered at Biola University, helping complete research projects and competes on the Tennis Team and is the Boys Tennis Team Captain. He also saved up his money earned from tutoring students and bought children’s books to help establish a library for children in Tijuana, Mexico.
AP Calculus Teacher Karen Kidwell explained, “Jihoo has terrific character. I see his generosity with his time in class. He willingly helps other students with understanding hard mathematical concepts. He works with a quiet kindness, which makes him easy to like and a joy to work with. Jihoo further displays his selflessness and generosity with his time in the amazing amount of volunteering he has done. He has accumulated over 600 hours of volunteer hours over the past 3 years, confirmed by the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards he received. He has worked assisting adults with special needs, he has done Orphanage volunteer work and he has done volunteer work with the clubs he was involved in. This is an incredible accomplishment, especially because of his involvement in other extracurricular activities, tennis and his high academic achievement.”
AP Literature Teacher Andrea Wood remarked about Han,”He is the sweetest, most thoughtful young man. He’s very smart and enthusiastic. A hard worker and very deserving of the award. Jihoo has a great sense of humor and he’s an all-around great kid. I’m so proud of him! I couldn’t think of a more deserving young man to receive this scholarship.”
Han’s dedication to academics, community service, and personal growth has not only earned him this prestigious scholarship but also serves as an inspiration to his peers. As he embarks on his journey at Cornell University, his story highlights the power of perseverance and passion in achieving one’s dreams.
