Although Joshua has never visited Stanford University, it has always been his dream to attend the prestigious Northern California University. With his sights set on Stanford, he now needed to figure out how he and his family could afford the hefty tuition. The QuestBridge National College Match offered the perfect solution.

QuestBridge is a non-profit organization that connects high-achieving, low-income students with colleges and universities. The program supports students through the college search and application process. Its rigorous application process reviews candidates holistically, considering academic performance, financial need, and personal qualities, while highlighting each student’s achievements, talents, potential, and unique story. 

Joshua was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. at the age of two.  His Cameroonian father and Nigerian mother sought a better life for their three children. When Joshua was in fourth grade, his parents transferred him from the local ISD to Harmony School of Science-Houston, after his older brother and sister were accepted. He now attends Harmony School of Innovation-Sugar Land where he serves as a leader and inspiration to his fellow students. He will graduate at the top of his class in May 2025.

Joshua is well prepared for college, with a high school transcript full of excellent grades and college credits.  He has completed both AP classes and Dual Credit classes, including Economics, Physics, and Pre-Calculus. When asked about his favorite classes in high school, he quickly replied, “Computer Science!” His passion is evident in his reason: “I created an app. It was awesome to see what I can make and how it would impact others.”

Not only is not only intelligent, but he is also an athlete and activist. He has been a member of the school football team since its inaugural year and participates in the Environmental Awareness Tribune, which organizes events to promote eco-consciousness among Harmony students and staff. Additionally, he developed a website to promote the school’s club activities and volunteer opportunities. Currently, he serves as the administrator for the software that supports many of the school’s extracurricular programs. 

Joshua has been familiar with the QuestBridge program for years because both of his siblings were finalists. Joshua, however, is the

first in his family to match with a university. He applied to 12 Ivy League universities, including MIT, Cornell, Rice, Princeton, and, of course, Stanford. It’s easy to imagine the excitement when he found out he matched to Standford. He and his mom opened the letter in the car and had to pull over as they processed the incredible news–a full-ride scholarship and a path to a promising future, like a portal opening up in a science fiction movie. But this was no movie. Rather, it’s a real-life story of a hardworking young man who has a very bright future ahead.

Harmony School of Innovation had 14 Questbridge finalists this year, with six matches–a remarkable achievement for a small high school. The six matched seniors quickly realized the power of networking and staying connected, creating a WhatsApp group to support one another. Harmony Public Schools is very proud of our students, who continually amaze us with their courage, hard-work, and dedication.