Polk County Early College senior Bonnie Bailey has been named a 2026 QuestBridge National College Match Finalist, earning an opportunity to compete for admission and scholarship support through some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities.
QuestBridge selected 7,526 finalists nationwide this year from its applicant pool. Finalists can participate in the organization’s College Match process, which connects high-achieving students from limited-income backgrounds with participating colleges.
QuestBridge works with 55 college partners, including institutions such as Duke, Princeton, Stanford, Yale and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In additional to carrying a 4.7 GPA, Bailey’s work extends beyond the classroom. She works with elementary students through PEAK After School, volunteers through Key Club and Champions for Wildlife and is completing a 140-hour internship at Sunny View Elementary School through Polk County Schools’ developing Future Teacher Program.
The internship is giving Bailey firsthand experience in education as she considers a career in the field.
QuestBridge considers academic achievement along with students’ experiences, leadership, character and other factors in selecting finalists.
Bailey’s selection moves her into the next stage of the National College Match process. The final matching process is still underway.
