Scholarship Stories

Scholarship totaling over $25 million!

Emely Abreu Barnard College

I have spent a lot of time reminiscing on my high school experience. I remember my first couple of weeks at Notre Dame and how difficult it was to make friends for me, as it felt like everyone had their group or knew someone at the school. Luckily, I had joined the cross-country team the August of freshman year and was able to meet upper classwomen, and other freshwomen. I remember always being excited to go to practice after school because I could talk to my teammates and have a good time. The cross country and track teams, along with other sports teams and clubs I was a part of, truly made my high school experience better and I will always cherish those memories.

What made Notre Dame so special to me was not only the people I met, but also the lessons I learned. Chez Nous taught me how to be an even more open and accepting individual, and I was able to learn so much from my teachers and my peers. I grew as a person, and I discovered new things about myself. The Notre Dame environment was crucial for me, and my friends and teachers always made me feel welcomed and accepted. I will always remember the friends I made at Notre Dame, as I know I can always count on them to be there for me and to make me laugh. And I will always remember the wonderful teachers, and how much I learned from them, whether it was a school lesson or life lesson. It will be sad to graduate from Notre Dame, but I am excited

for my future endeavors at Barnard College on a full scholar-

ship. I know Notre Dame has prepared me for this moment which would not have been possible without my family, my friends, and Chez Nous.

Lucy Berquist University of Scranton

As I reflect on my past four years of high school, I am 100% confident that I made the right decision in attending Notre Dame. I have never been more thankful to belong to such a prestigious and giving community. With the help and guidance from teachers, administrators, coaches, and peers, I was able to thrive academically, athletically, and socially at Notre Dame. I was always given the opportunity to succeed whether I was at school early for extra help on a test, or staying late after practice to improve my game.

Notre Dame has not only helped me grow as a student, but has encouraged me to become a well-rounded young woman who is confident and passionate about my future. I am so thankful for all the lifelong relationships I have made at this school and I will forever be a part of the Chez Nous community. I am proud to say that I will be continuing

my academic and athletic career at the University of Scranton

on near full scholarship, and I will be majoring in Kinesiology and playing women’s soccer. Without Notre Dame, my family, and my Chez Nous sisters, I would not be where I am today, and for that I am forever grateful.

Shiyin Ge Cornell University

Looking back at my time at Notre Dame, I feel immensely grateful for all the opportunities I have been given, the lifelong friends I have made, the wonderful teachers I have met, and the list could go on and on. I remember as an eighth grader, I was anxious about choosing the right high school. I knew I was looking for a school that had a strong community and a place where I could excel and become a better version of myself. After attending open house at ND, I knew I had found the place where I wanted to spend my next four years. During my time here, I have come to realize how special ND is: ND is more than just a school, it is Chez Nous, our home.

A large part of my academic success can be attributed to my teachers. They are some of the most hardworking, understanding, and selfless people I know. I would like to give a special shoutout to Ms. Crosson, whom I admire and appreciate greatly for all that she is. She, like many at ND, is more than just a teacher but also a mentor, a confidant, and an inspiration. I am incredibly grateful to all the teachers at ND because I know without them, I wouldn’t have the academic foundation to succeed in college. Of course, what has made my time truly unforgettable are the girls at ND. I have made so many amazing friends and incredible memories here, such as co-founding the first social justice committee with three of my best friends and going on my first service trip in junior year. I know this is just the beginning for many of the friendships I have made at ND, and I am excited to see where we all end up.

Although the last four years were not what I imagined them to be, especially with a pandemic that challenged us all, I wouldn’t have it any other way. ND has changed me for

the better and I hope to bring everything I have learned here to Cornell, and beyond, thanks to my near full scholarship.

Brigid McCabe Columbia University

During the past four years at Notre Dame, I have had the opportunity to be part of so many wonderful activities, clubs, and teams that have helped me grow as a person and create meaningful relationships. My time in student government, particularly as president this past year, has taught me so much about leadership and teamwork, and through collaboration bonded me with both teachers and fellow student leaders. My freshman year, I started the Notre Dame Book Club with my friend Devon and our wonderful English teacher Ms. Kane. Since then, we have covered authors spanning from James Baldwin to Virginia Woolf, and generated amazing conversations with students, teachers, and even alumnae and families, providing a much needed sense of community even as we switched to a virtual format. Similarly, my role in the founding of our social justice committee, STAND (Solidarity Throughout All of Notre Dame), has been particularly rewarding, as I have seen its impact on uniting the Notre Dame community and inspiring girls to take action. The formation and expansion of this committee has created beautiful friendships with my fellow founders and our teacher supervisors, as well.

The activity that has shaped my time at Notre Dame the most is definitely track and field. I began running on the cross-country team freshman year, and immediately fell in love with it. My improvement was consistent, and by the end of my first year of running I qualified for the New York State championships. Since then, I have won five Catholic High School state championships and a number of city championships, as well. Most importantly, my love for the sport and my confidence in my own abilities has only grown. I owe all my success to my supportive parents, my dedicated coaches, and my uplifting teammates, many of whom have become my closest friends. Now I have the amazing opportunity to attend Columbia University on a near full scholarship where

I will continue my academic and athletic career as a member of the track and field team. I am so excited to see what the future holds!

Jennifer Reynoso Pace University

I began to get into sports through the experiences that my older siblings went through. In the 90s, my parents secured a spot for my older brother to compete on one of the top swim teams in New York. His journey with swimming inspired my older sister, Jessica Reynoso, ND ’13, to join the same swim team alongside my brother. Both of their journeys ultimately influenced me to want to swim, and I embarked on my own journey when I was around the age of 5. Juggling the life of a student athlete required me to maintain a ton of self-discipline. I had practice seven or eight times a week and had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning. After a two-hour practice, I went straight into another hour of strength training, which could be extremely draining. Being a student athlete came with a lot of commitments, as well as a lot of hard work. At times, I would have to do my school work coming home from practice at eight or nine at night. I would even do some lastminute studying on my way to school coming from morning practice. Even though being a student athlete was difficult at times, I still continued to thrive at my school and in the pool.

Throughout my swimming journey and my time spent at ND, the support that came from my friends, teachers and guidance counselors motivated me to continue to push through every single day. Notre Dame has also helped me understand how to maintain a balance between swimming and school obligations through discipline. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my swimming journey had to take a pause for a year and a half. During the college process, I advocated for myself and reached out to multiple college coaches about the opportunity to compete on the collegiate level. I had the best communication with the head coach of the Pace University swimming team, and we developed an amazing relationship. I received

an academic scholarship from the school and also earned an athletic scholarship to compete for the

swim team in the NE-10 conference. GO, SETTERS!

Abby Santos NYU

These past four years at Notre Dame have passed so quickly and paved the way for my future. I truly believe that becoming part of Chez Nous has shaped who I am today. I still remember riding the train to the school building for the first time, feeling nervous to go to school outside of Queens. These feelings dissipated, however, as soon as I was welcomed by the warm community at Notre Dame. Besides being able to build relationships with others that will last me a long time, I was able to discover what I loved and what I wanted to pursue in the future. At Notre Dame I also was able to pursue my existing interest in math and science and expand my knowledge in vigorous classes like AP Calculus and AP Computer Science. Through a multitude of classes and extracurricular activities, I had the opportunity to explore art and music during these past four years. I learned how much I loved making art and how much I enjoyed singing, and I want to continue to pursue both as hobbies in the future. I definitely have my teachers to thank, for all the guidance they have given me in and out of the classroom.

The college application process was long and difficult, and I know I would not have been able to get through it without help from my counselors, family, mentors and friends. At Notre Dame I found that I wanted to continue pursuing math and science, specifically computer science, but have the opportunity to still engage in my other interests in the arts. I applied to a large number of schools across the country, even becoming a QuestBridge National College Match finalist, but I eventually decided that staying in New York City for the next four years would be the right choice. I am thankful for all the experiences I have

had at Notre Dame, and I am looking forward to pursuing Computer Science and Engineering at New York University on a full scholarship.

Doniella Taylor-Ambersley NYU

My time at Notre Dame has been filled with immense growth and learning that has helped make me the young woman I am today. It is remarkable to look back and see the incredible ways my education at ND has shaped me. When I first stepped into Notre Dame, I was shy and nervous for the journey ahead, but I quickly became a part of a community of Chez Nous sisters that embraced me and made ND feel like home. I also joined the thriving arts programs at Notre Dame, participating in both Glee and Drama Club. Beginning with my freshman year music class, Ms. Wakabayashi always pushed me outside of my comfort zone and fueled my love for music. At every club meeting or performance, my confidence soared and I was able to make lifelong friendships. At Notre Dame I was truly able to thrive creatively, academically, and socially.

Living in a first-generation immigrant household, I did not know where to start when it came to the college admissions process, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. However, I always knew that my counselor, Ms.Cimera, would be there to help me and answer any questions that I had. Every single teacher has left a lasting impact and taught me lessons beyond the classroom that I will always carry with me. Guided under our school values of Courage, Service, Respect, Responsibility, and more, I feel prepared to conquer this new chapter in my life.

I am proud to say that I will be attending New York University on a full scholarship to study Marketing and

Fashion Business. I was also selected to join a small pool of admitted students in the Albert Gallatin Scholars Program at NYU, where I will engage in research projects and work closely with faculty during international trips across the globe. Notre Dame not only prepared me to reach my goals but to exceed them. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to spend four years at Notre Dame and will never forget all the amazing memories that I have made there.

Jaileen Wales Vanderbilt University

If I could describe my Notre Dame experience in one word, it would be influential. While looking for a high school in 2017, I yearned for a place with an academic and extracurricular balance that would allow me to have new experiences and expand my horizons. From the minute I set foot in Notre Dame to the last time I exited the double doors at the front of the building, this school has never failed to exceed my expectations.

Notre Dame has influenced me as an individual in countless ways. ND has taught me how to challenge myself and embrace an academically rigorous program. Each and every single course at ND has influenced my intellect and fostered my ability to approach every class, subject, or situation with confidence and grace. ND has also taught me what it is to be a friend. I have met some of my closest friends at Notre Dame, and I can’t help but attribute that to the school’s welcoming and loving atmosphere. Each and every relationship that I have made at ND can never be broken, whether that is with the girls I call my best friends or the teachers that I have spent countless hours talking to.

Notre Dame has taught me to be a leader and proponent for social justice. ND has provided me and countless others with the outlet to be activists and partake in the social justice issues and movements that we hold near and dear. Above all, Notre Dame has influenced the person that I have become. Over the course of four years, I transitioned from a shy little girl to an outspoken, confident young woman who is ready to take the world by a storm. Notre Dame has prepared me for what life has to offer, and, as an ND girl, I am ready to embrace the challenges that life presents me with open arms. Besides all of the academic, personal, and character growth that ND has provided, they have allowed me to achieve only the first of my countless dreams. Thanks to ND’s academic rigor, extracurricular classes, and immense influence, I am proud to say that I will be attending

Vanderbilt University on a full scholarship to study Cellular and Molecular Biology.