NEWARK, N.J. – District officials announced today that two Science Park High School seniors have been awarded full scholarships for college. The QuestBridge Scholarship Program, a nonprofit organization that provides higher education opportunities to high-achieving students from low-income families, has provided the scholarships.

Iyiola Ajanaku, 17, will attend Brown University in Rhode Island, and Ashley Lourenco will go to Amherst College in Massachusetts.

“It means a million doors have opened up in my life,” Iyiola said about her college acceptance and scholarship. “Being able to go to such a well-known and academically rigorous institution will strengthen me as a person and bring my life to the next level. I am so incredibly grateful. It is such a huge blessing.”

“I am very excited to have received this amazing opportunity,” said Ashley. “I can focus on my academics at a great college without having to worry about debt.”

“We are immensely proud of Iyiola and Ashley for their remarkable achievements in earning QuestBridge scholarships. Their hard work, determination, and excellence are an inspiration to all of us in the Newark Public Schools community,” said Superintendent León. “We are excited to see all that they will accomplish as they embark on this next chapter at Brown and Amherst. Congratulations to Iyiola, Ashley, their families, and the dedicated teachers, school counselors, and mentors who have supported them along the way."

“I want to congratulate Iyiola and Ashley on being awarded these prestigious QuestBridge scholarships, said Hasani K. Council, President of the Board of Education. “Their accomplishments exemplify the talent and potential of our students here in Newark. We commend their perseverance, celebrate their achievements, and look forward to seeing the incredible impact they will make in their future endeavors.”

“Iyiola and Ashley are two exemplary students who have been consistently bringing pride to the Science Park High School community,” said Darleen L. Gearhart, Principal of Science Park High School. “I am very proud of both of these outstanding students and look forward to witnessing their impact on the world.”

Iyiola Ajanaku

Ajanaku was born in Newark and lives with her family who came to the United States from Nigeria in the early 2000s. She said the International Baccalaureate program was the main reason she wanted to attend Science Park High School, as well as the school’s focus on science and the diversity of students. Ajanaku swims on the school’s swim team and she co-founded the school’s Culture Club.

“I decided to make a safe space where people can come and learn about each other while also learning about countries,” she said.

At Brown, Ajanaku intends to major in computational biology, which uses mathematical and computational approaches to address theoretical and experimental questions in biology, according to the NIH. For Ajanaku, the major will allow her to use her skills in working with data and data modeling to help answer questions related to biology, specifically health care.

“I work really well with databases and interpreting data to help solve problems,” she said.

Ashley Lourenco

Lourenco has gained significant notoriety as a national champion debater, being the first in the high school’s history to win the New York City Invitational Debate and Speech Tournament’s Lincoln-Douglas Debate event and the tournament’s award for best speaker.  

Lourenco, also a lifelong Newark resident, previously attended the Ann Street School, where her mother, Ione Dearruda, is a teacher, and her younger brother and sister are students. Her father is a construction worker.

Lourenco is interested in pursuing political science or law, considering law school as one pathway, but is also open to journalism or nonprofit work.

When she has a bit of time to relax, Lourenco enjoys watching stand-up comedy on YouTube, counting John Mulaney as one of her favorite comedians.