Alex Olivares, a senior at La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, has been awarded the prestigious QuestBridge National Match Scholarship to attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

The full-ride scholarship includes room, board, tuition, books, fees, and transportation for all four years.

Olivares is the first student from La Salle to be awarded this scholarship since its inception in 1994.

“I am beyond excited. I think I’m even more excited today than when I found out last Friday. I can’t wait to start at Holy Cross this fall,” Olivares said.

According to the high school, Olivares applied last March as one of 20,000 applicants. Of nearly 7,000 finalists, he narrowed his focus to 10 colleges, choosing from 50 QuestBridge College Partners that included Penn, Harvard, Colgate, Tulane, and Vassar.

On Match Day earlier this month, he learned he had been “matched” to the College of the Holy Cross. He’ll join a cohort of just over 2,000 winning students from around the country.

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Photo: LSCHS