NEWARK, N.J. – Bard High School Early College Seniors Judith Garcia and Kristina Aguirre are two native New Yorkers whose families started new lives in Newark when they were younger. And now, they will enter the next chapters in their own lives as college students – Garcia at Grinnell College and Aguirre at Williams College – with the help of full QuestBridge scholarships.

The QuestBridge Scholarship Program, a nonprofit organization that provides higher education opportunities to high-achieving students from low-income families, has provided the scholarships.

“I am beyond proud of Judith and Kristina for their remarkable accomplishments in earning full QuestBridge scholarships to attend college,” said Superintendent León. “Their dedication and perseverance, as well as the support of their devoted families, have paved the way for their success. I want to thank everyone who helped these extraordinary students achieve their goals, including their teachers, counselors, mentors, and administrators. I have no doubt that Judith and Kristina will continue to make their families, their schools, and our city proud as they embark on these next exciting chapters in their academic journeys.”

“On behalf of the Newark Board of Education, I want to congratulate Judith and Kristina on their incredible achievement of earning full QuestBridge college scholarships,” said Hasani K. Council, president of the Board of Education. “Judith and Kristina’s stories remind us of the power of education to open doors and transform lives. We are so proud of them and look forward to celebrating all they will accomplish as they continue to make Newark proud.”

“It has been a privilege to see Judith and Kristina grow into the exceptional young scholars they are today. Their achievements are a reflection of their exceptional abilities and dedication, as well as the vibrant community of support here at Bard,” said Dr. David Cutts, Principal of Bard High School Early College. “Earning full QuestBridge college scholarships is a life-changing accomplishment that is a result of Judith and Kristina’s hard work. They are great examples of what is possible when students dare to dream big and commit themselves to pursuing those dreams. We are thrilled that they chose to become part of our Bard family. We are incredibly proud of them and excited to see all the great things they will achieve in the future.”

Judith Garcia Torres – Grinnell College

As founder of her high school’s Chess Club, Judith Garcia Torres has learned the importance of thinking a few moves ahead. But Garcia never could have predicted that she would find out about her next big move – going to Grinnell College in Iowa – during a chess game with her studio art teacher.

“I was shocked,” said Garcia Torres, a native New Yorker who moved to Newark’s North Ward while she was in the eighth grade. “I was so happy to have the stress of college applications off my shoulders.”

Garcia Torres, who plans to study biochemistry with aspirations of becoming a microbiologist or psychiatrist, will be the first in her family to go to college. Her father works as a waiter in Manhattan, and her mother is a homemaker. She has two younger sisters: one who is a sophomore at Science Park High School and another who is a third grader at Ridge Street Elementary School.

In addition to the Chess Club, Garcia Torres founded and is captain of the cross-country team.  She is a member of the Student Council, the National Honor Society, The College of New Jersey Cohort, and the Cooperman College Scholars program. She also participates in the Duke of Edinburgh program.

In her free time, Garcia Torres enjoys drawing, running, playing chess, coding in Java, and creating origami.

Garcia Torres said she is deeply grateful to teachers, friends, and people she met through the academically supportive programs who encouraged her to seize opportunities like applying for a QuestBridge scholarship.

“I’ve never had such a supportive community before,” she said. “Without them, I don’t believe I would have tried as hard as I did to succeed academically and outside of school. I’ll forever be grateful for those who have helped me along this journey.”

Kristina Aguirre – Williams College

It was in the middle of the day when Aguirre got a message about her college future, but she didn’t want to open it until her parents got home from work. That wasn’t until it was nearly 10 o’clock.

“My parents and siblings watched as I opened my results,” said Aguirre, who is the second-youngest of five children.

The message was worth waiting for. Aguirre had been accepted to Williams College in Massachusetts, where she had visited in October as she participated in the school’s fly-in program.

The news meant the world to her. “It allows me to take a weight off my back and my parents’ back,” she said. “This opportunity means all of the work I put into Questbridge and into school had meaning.”

Aguirre intends to major in English and East Asian languages with the goal of becoming a writer for children’s media while utilizing her language skills. An assignment in the eighth grade sparked her interest in writing. Participating in the New Jersey Law Education Empowerment Project (NJLEEP) program throughout high school has help Aguirre hone her writing skills.

Her interest in East Asian Languages stemmed from her school’s Mandarin classes and her desire to improve her Japanese skills.

Also, Aguirre’s mother, who works in a laundromat, is originally from Japan. Her father emigrated from Nicaragua and works as an Uber driver. Her older sister graduated from Temple University’s Japan campus in May. She has two older brothers in college, one who attends Yale University and the other who is at Rutgers University in Newark. Her younger brother is a student at Bard High School Early College.

Born in the Bronx, Aguirre moved to Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood when she was three. She attended Hawkins Street School and graduated as her class’s valedictorian in 2021.

Aguirre has been involved in many extra-curricular activities in high school, including serving as president of the National Honor Society and contributing to her school’s newspaper with a column called, “Mind Travelers.” Previously, she was president of the French Club and has been a student ambassador since her freshman year.

Aguirre has been recognized as a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar and a Horatio Alger State Scholar. In her free time, she enjoys singing, writing, drawing, and crafting projects from household items.