Iola High School senior Andre Quinn knows his worth.
Hes a resilient, versatile and industrious young man, raised by two strong women his mother and grandmother and surrounded by supportive friends and teachers.
And now, one of the most elite colleges in the country recognizes his value, too.
Grinnell College in Iowa recently awarded Quinn a four-year, full-ride scholarship through the QuestBridge program. QuestBridge provides opportunities for high-achieving, low-income students to attend some of the nations best colleges and universities.
Quinn becomes the second IHS student in two years to match with an elite colleges through QuestBridge. Jon Miller, IHS Class of 2019, is currently attending Bowdoin College in Maine.
Miller and his father, Paul Miller, who is a full-time substitute at IHS and a Grinnell alumnus, have worked with other students over the past two years to encourage them to explore their collegiate options.
I never would have imagined going to a school outside Kansas, Quinn said. When I found out I matched with Grinnell, it didnt really hit me right away just how much value this has to me.
QUINNS grandmother, Doris Cheney, raised him the first seven years of his life. As a nurse, she knew the value of a good education. An education equates to getting a good job and launching a rewarding career, she told Quinn.
His mother, Deanette Cheney, did not attend college but always made sure her son had everything he needed to be successful in school, including extracurricular activities like band, Scholars Bowl and forensics.
Shes incredibly happy for me and proud of me, especially because she wasnt able to go to college so I had to sort of figure out everything on my own, Quinn said. My grandma is happy for me, too, especially since I get to go somewhere I really want to go. She always had faith in me, but she was concerned whether I would go somewhere I was actually interested in or just because it was a good opportunity.
SCHOOLWORK, especially math, has always interested Quinn.
In first grade, he started working on multiplication and division concepts, something that typically wasnt introduced until second grade.
His teachers understood his need to challenge himself, and encouraged Quinn to work ahead.
I was always big on trying new things and expanding my knowledge, he said. The schools were always good at allowing me to go beyond to test my limits and see how far I can actually push my skills.
In high school, Quinn noticed how his teachers began to encourage students to share ideas on more in-depth topics.
That was especially true in science and English classes.
