Creighton Alumni Spotlight

Ms. Jimena Rascon is a Papago School alumni (1-8), recent graduate of North High School's IB program, recipient of the QuestBridge Scholarship, and was recently accepted to Brown University. Learn more about this extraordinary young woman below.

How did your time at Papago School help prepare you for success in High School?

While I attended Papago School, my mom (Maria Rascon) also worked at the school and was very involved in my education. Through conversations with my past teacher Ms. Gaytan Padilla, she learned about the North High School IB program and the opportunity for college scholarships. My moms experience working in education has always set me on a natural path to college.

Papago school also helped me practice my leadership skills through programs like the National Junior Honor Society and Student Council. In middle school my teacher Mr Higgins encouraged me to apply for the IB program at North and I was accepted.

What is a fond memory you have from your time at Papago School?

As a 4th grade student, my best friend Hope and I read about kids in Ecuador who were forced to work in poor conditions. These kids impacted us greatly and we wanted to help make a difference. Through dress down Friday, we convinced the student council to use the money raised to help the kids in Ecuador. We ended up raising $700 and the teacher who oversaw Student Council helped us send the money raised to the kids in Ecuador.

This experienced sparked my passion for giving back.

What was it like when you found out you were accepted to Brown University

It was an explosion of emotions. I yelled for my mom and we couldn't believe what we were seeing, we were both speechless. Coming from a family of immigrants made this a really special and emotional moment.

What do you plan to study at Brown University?

At Brown, I plan to double concentrate in sociology and marine science. Those are two fields that really interest me and I want to learn more.

What exactly is a QuestBridge scholarship?

QuestBridge is a college match scholarship where high achieving students from low-income backgrounds are granted admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full, four-year scholarship worth over $200,000 each. This scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the QuestBridge college partner that covers the cost of attendance, including: tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expense. This very competitive scholarship grants 1,464 low-income students the opportunity to attend college annually.

Any plans for what you want to do after college?

After college I would like to attend law school. I want to focus on criminal justice reform for a more humane system focusing on rights and advocacy for low-income students.

What do you credit for your achievements?

There are a lot of moments that have led up to my success. Including the help I received from mentors, teachers, friends, and family. The resilience I have built from life experiences and my ability to appreciate life for its beauty and the opportunities presented to me through sports and college readiness programs like STEP:Student Expedition and the University of Southern California Bovard Scholars Program.

What advice would you give other students

After the news of my scholarship went public, I get questions all the time from high school students asking for advice. The advice I give them is to stay focused, create relationships that support you, and don't be afraid to dream big.

We tend to diminish our abilities when we don’t see people that look like us in those high-level positions we dream about. However, the beauty of us is that we are the flowers that bloom in adversity and can spread more seeds of change to plant new beginnings. Do not be afraid to bloom. Do not be mistaken. Although we are low-income we are high impact

- Jimena Rascon

Share your story and make the recommendation by emailing Emily Waszolek at ewaszolek@creightonschools.org.

Email: ewaszolek@creightonschools.org
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