CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman High School senior Madison Johnson was recently admitted to Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with a full, four-year QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. This year, QuestBridge’s 55 college partners matched with only 2,550 finalists, who are recognized as Match Scholarship Recipients, across the nation.
“I was shocked. This truly is a life-changing opportunity, and I am so thankful for everyone who has been a part of this process,” Johnson said of receiving the news. “It would especially not have been possible without my dad’s support. He has been an example, giving me the encouragement I need.”
Johnson credited her teachers for their support and investment in her future as one factor that helped her reach this point.
“Teachers like Mrs. Lunsford and Mrs. Nix have been great mentors, helping me believe in my potential. Mrs. Brumley and Mrs. Tankersley have fostered my interest in the health sciences, and I am now ready to apply what I have learned from them in the future,” she said. “I am very excited to attend Denison University, and I look forward to meeting people who have a range of life experiences. The close-knit campus culture and small class size intrigue me. I think more people need to take advantage of opportunities like this because they will never know if they don’t apply.”
Each Match Scholarship Recipient receives early admission and a full four-year scholarship to a QuestBridge college partner, ensuring for these students and their families that an education at a top college is affordable. The Match Scholarship — provided by the school — is made up of a generous financial aid package that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies, and travel expenses. The Match Scholarship does not include loans or a parental contribution.
QuestBridge is a national nonprofit organization that connects high-achieving students from low-resource backgrounds with a thriving community and transformative educational, career and life opportunities that help propel them to lives of fulfillment, meaning and purpose. From QuestBridge’s founding over 30 years ago, the organization has always focused on creating opportunities for students from low-resource backgrounds, regardless of race, geography or academic interest.
In the fall, Johnson plans to enter the pre-med track at Denison University with a concentration in neuroscience, aspiring to become an anesthesiologist. Her dedication to the health sciences is demonstrated by her fourth-place finish in the state for HOSA Bowl last year and her participation in the Cullman High School Medical Academy program. She earned AP Scholar with Distinction after completing six AP classes in her junior year. She also serves as Vice President of the National Honor Society and as a Citizen Promise Ambassador for the Liberty Learning Foundation.
