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Rowland Unified is proud to announce a historic achievement for Nogales High School -- four senior scholars have been awarded the 2025 QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, which connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full scholarships to the nation’s top academic institutions. Nogales High School Nobles Jairo Albarran (Northwestern University), Jayla Guzman Murrillo (Wellesley College), Tamar Rosas (Amherst College) and Tanner Yocum (Bowdoin College) each received early admission and secured a full four-year scholarship that covers the full cost of attendance including tuition, housing and food, books, supplies and travel expenses with no parental contribution or loans.
This life-changing scholarship for each student is making college dreams a reality. The cost for four years combined for these students totals $1.6 million!
“My Mom woke me up at 6 AM and said I had a notification. I thought we were going to hear the news at Noon and honestly, I didn’t want to open it! I was shaking as I clicked the email open,” said Jairo Albarran. “Confetti popped and it said congratulations; I got into Northwestern University! We were all speechless! It also hit that I would be going far away... my other colleges on my list were here in CA or on the West Coast but now I will be headed to Illinois!” Jairo is ranked at the top of his class in the rigorous International Baccalaureate Program. Jairo excels academically while also giving back to his community through mentorship and leadership. He is a member of the Pomona College Academy for Youth Success, PAYS, a residential college experience he has participated in since his freshman year. He has pursued advanced STEM opportunities, including coding, cybersecurity, and web design through the America on Tech Flex Leaders program. He is considering options in the math and science fields and leaning towards a career in engineering.
When Jayla Guzman Murillo woke up early and clicked her email notification, she was stunned. She didn’t know how to tell her family that she was accepted into Wellesley College, the private women’s liberal arts college in Massachusetts. “I literally woke my parents and then my grandparents and everyone was hugging me and congratulating me! I just felt really proud that I was able to go to this prestigious school on a full ride,” said Jayla. “What drew me to Wellesley was their strong network and community. Academically, they have super small class sizes so I feel I will be able to engage with the professors more easily.” Jayla is a standout student in the International Baccalaureate Program, Jayla is also a Thrive Scholar at USC, where she continues to grow as a researcher, advocate, and community builder. Her passion for science began at home, inspiring her dream to pursue biochemistry and advance gene therapy so families -- especially those in underserved communities — have access to life-changing medical care.
“My heart was beating so fast that morning, and I was in shock and started crying when I read the email,” said Tamar Rosas, who was accepted to Amherst College, a private liberal arts college in Massachusetts. “I ran to my sister since she was getting ready for school and yelled. I GOT IN! I am going across the country! I have four sisters and I will be the first one to go so far away.” Tamar approaches learning with curiosity and purpose, connecting her studies in science to her dream of becoming a veterinarian and advocating for animals and communities alike. She has honed her skills and leadership through programs like Thrive Scholars at USC and as a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar, preparing for opportunities that will allow her to make a meaningful impact. A first-generation college student, Tamar is Secretary of the College Connect Club on campus where she helps foster a college-going culture at Nogales High School, supporting peers and building. “What was so special about being part of the Questbridge Scholar and Thrive Scholar programs was it allowed me to pursue bigger opportunities and pushed me to go out of my comfort zone.”
Tanner Yocum woke up early to brace himself for the day. “I rolled over and thought, do I really want to open this right now? When I saw the congratulations message - You matched to Bowdoin College (a private liberal arts college in Maine - I had to keep rereading it. I think I read it at least 8 times! My hands were shaking a little bit…I just sat there and took in the moment. Then I ran and almost fell down the stairs to tell my Mom! It was such a rush of adrenaline to know it was done.” Tanner is an exceptional scholar whose curiosity and love for learning drives him to be ranked in the top 1% of his class and he is thriving in the International Baccalaureate Program. He has a gift for connecting ideas across subjects, from philosophy and literature to music and science. His passion was on full display in his IB Extended Essay, where he explored the deeper meanings behind Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Last summer, he continued to grow as a researcher and leader through the Thrive Scholars program at USC. Tanner is exploring careers in life sciences and academia.