WKU News

BOWLING GREEN –Gatton Academy seniors Austin Anderson and Bruno Castaneda will attend college at no cost after respectively matching to Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through the QuestBridge National College Match program. Anderson and Castaneda are among 2,627 seniors from across the United States and U.S. territories who matched with QuestBridge college partners this year. 

“These students will be outstanding ambassadors for Kentucky as they pursue the next steps in their educational paths. They are remarkable young men who are exceptional scholars and contributing community members,” said Dr. Lynette Breedlove, Director of The Gatton Academy. “I am grateful for the QuestBridge Scholars Program which invests in promising young people’s future, opening doors that will empower them to further contribute to their home communities.”

Over 25,550 applicants were narrowed down to 7,288 finalists of which 52 college partners selected the final 2,627 matches. Applicants are made up of high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with an average unweighted GPA of 3.94 and 89% eligible for Free or Reduced-Price School Meals. The full-ride scholarship not only includes funding for tuition and housing, but also food, books and supplies, travel expenses, and more. 

Laura King, Gatton Academy’s College Counseling and Testing Coordinator, shared, “For our students, the transition to college - much like their time at Gatton - is a pivotal stage in their academic and personal journeys. To embark on this next chapter with such generous support from their institutions and through a program that prioritizes access to higher education is an extraordinary accomplishment to witness. We are incredibly proud of these students' hard work, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make on their respective institutions and beyond.”

Austin Anderson (Bowling Green, Warren Central High School) will be attending Yale University to study applied mathematics. Anderson plans to pursue a career as a mathematics professor.

Bruno Castaneda (Smithfield, Henry County High School) will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study physics. Castaneda plans to pursue a career in astrophysics.

About QuestBridge: QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further life opportunities. By recruiting, developing, and motivating these students – beginning in high school through college to their early career – QuestBridge aims to help talented students attend the nation’s best colleges and to support them to achieve success in their respective careers and communities.

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented juniors and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Gatton Academy is a recipient of the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity Magazine and the Innovation Partnership Award from the National Consortium for Secondary STEM Schools.