Quentaxia Wrighting, a graduating senior at Ozen High School, is continuing to rack up majoracademic honors, including being tagged as a scholar by Horatio Algers, Gates Millennium (GMS)and Dell. She has earned the Terry Foundation Scholarship and other national and world renownedscholastic honors as well as several local scholarships.
GMS encourages academic excellence and provides mentoring services for academic and personal development. Administered by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), GMS reaches out to the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund to assist in implementing the program. Initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GMS promotes academic excellence and provides an opportunity for outstanding minority students to achieve collegiate success.
The Dell Scholars Program aims to provide Wrighting with everything she needs to begin andcomplete college. She will receive $20,000 toward paying for her higher education over the course of six years. In addition,the Dell Scholars Program will provide Wrighting with technology resources and mentoring to ensure she has the supportfor collegiate success. As a Dell Scholar, she will become part of support network scholars, their schools, families, peers anda dedicated Dell Scholar team at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
Wrighting knew the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., bears the name of the renowned authorHoratio Alger, Jr., whose tales of overcoming adversity through unyielding perseverance and basic moral principles captivatedthe public in the late 19th century. The association was established in 1947 to dispel the mounting belief among the nation'syouth that the American Dream was no longer attainable. It is dedicated to the simple and powerful belief that hard work,honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. Through its scholarship programs, the association encourages studentsto pursue their own version of the American dream. Thanks to the Alger Association, Wrighting is on the fast track to pursuingher dreams.
The Terry Foundation is a Houston-based scholarship program founded to provide scholarships to outstanding Texas Highschool graduates for attendance at public colleges and universities within the state. Established in 1986 by philanthropistsHoward & Nancy Terry, the foundation has assisted hundreds of Terry Scholars in meeting the Founders' goal of helpingyoung people to help themselves.
Affectionately called “Quen” by her friends, the graduating senior is hoping a few more scholarships will roll her way prior toher June graduation date. She plans to study to become a pharmacist and will jumpstart her college career this summer whenshe enters the University of Houston with 12 hours of college credits that she earned in high school. Wrighting, who lovesmeeting new people and helping out in any way she can, is the daughter of Elizabeth Cole-Thornton.