BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There were times when Jerry Rivera believed his dream of attending a prestigious university such as Princeton was a pipe dream; a gleaming want, resting teasingly atop the icy peak of a distant mountain.
Being the academically brilliant son of an unemployed single mother of two struggling to make ends meet essentially made those dreams an impossibility.
“Ever since middle school, I’d dreamed of going to a great college,” said Jerry, a Bethlehem Freedom High School senior. “But I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to afford to go. But that was my dream.”
Sometimes, dreams do come true.
- Freedom High School senior Jerry Rivera was awarded a four-year scholarship to Princeton University
- The scholarship was made by QuestBridge, a nonprofit that connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with leading colleges and universities
- Recognition of Rivera's scholarship was made during a ceremony at the high school on Tuesday morning
At Freedom High School on Tuesday morning, Jerry was celebrated for having received a full four-year scholarship to Princeton via QuestBridge National College Match Program. The nonprofit organization connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with leading colleges and universities.
The organization’s mission is to increase the percentage of those students attending those institutions of higher learning and support them to achieve success in their careers and communities.
Jerry, who ranks eighth in his class academically with a 4.825 grade-point average, will study electrical engineering at Princeton. He now attends Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School and is enrolled in the Academy for Applied Engineering program.
“Initially, I was in disbelief when I heard about the scholarship,” Jerry said, as his mother, Gladys Oquendo, stood proudly beside him. “I remember being at home and opening up an email on my Chromebook in December. There it was. I got the scholarship. I was going to Princeton.”
Oquendo recalled the moment her son told her of the news.
“I was crying and in shock,” she said, the recollection nearly bringing her to tears. “My heart was racing. I’m so proud of him. This is like a dream.”
Tuesday's program at Freedom included remarks by Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph J. Roy, Principal Laurie Sage, guidance counselor Melanie Houser, and Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds.
Citations were presented to Jerry by state Rep. Steve Samuelson and Jacob D. Glessner, representing state Sen. Lisa Boscola.
“As a high school counselor, we have our ups and downs,” Houser said. “This is a real up!
“When Jerry told me about the scholarship, I raced down to [principal Sage’s] office. I barged in and said, ‘Put everything else down. This is a big deal.’ ”
“Ever since middle school, I’d dreamed of going to a great college. But I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to afford to go. But that was my dream.”Jerry Rivera, Freedom High School senior
Jerry is among the more than 30,000 outstanding high school students from low-income backgrounds who are academically qualified to attend the nation’s top colleges.
However, more than 80% of those top students don’t apply to even one selective college, according to the QuestBridge website. The reasons range from the students’ belief they can't afford an education at a top college, the assumption they don’t have the qualifications to apply, or simply assume they can’t be admitted.
Most of the students selected as College Prep Scholars come from households earning less than $65,000 annually for a typical household of four with minimal assets.
“Jerry is not only academic-minded — he also attended the Lehigh University Summer Engineering Institute — he gives back to the community,” said Sage, who noted Jerry has volunteered 140 hours to community service. “Freedom could not be more proud of him.
“And his mom, given all the challenges she has faced, she instilled in Jerry the values to work hard and give back. She is his advocate.”
Adam Lazarchak, executive director of the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, lauded Rivera for his hard work.
“Mrs. Judy Milositz, his instructor at the vo-tech school, said Jerry sees challenges and finds solutions,” Lazarchak said.
The annual cost to attend Princeton, including tuition, room and board, and books and supplies, is $68,044, according to the university website. The four-year price tag: $272,176.
“That is like hitting the lottery,” Oquendo said.
The difference: the lottery is a game of chance.
Hard work results in realized dreams.
