Julio Hidalgo, a senior at Benton High School has been awarded a full-ride to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

Hidalgo was awarded the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, the total amount of the scholarship package is $65,709, plus a travel allowance that will help students visit home each year.

QuestBridge is a program that matches students to full-ride scholarships at prestigious universities. Out of 2,000 finalists this year, 671 were matched with scholarships. Hidalgo is one of twelve students who will receive the scholarship at Washington and Lee.

“I was awestruck for a couple of days,” said Hidalgo. “I didn’t think it was happening. I didn’t think I’d get in, because only about one quarter of finalists get in.” Students who apply for the QuestBridge match can choose up to twelve schools that they would like to attend, ranking them in the order they would like to attend. QuestBridge attempts to match students, and informs them if they receive a scholarship to any of the schools on their list.

Hidalgo was originally contacted through e-mail by QuestBridge and invited to apply. Hidalgo had heard about the program as a freshman in 2012, when Benton student Jacob Dudley was matched by QuestBridge to Tufts. “At the scholarship assembly, when they announce how much each student received in scholarships,” Hidalgo said, “his number stood out. Most scholarships are a thousand or two, and his was much higher. So when QuestBridge contacted me, I had that in the back of my mind.”

Hidalgo is interested in pursuing a degree in neuroscience, and would like to eventually become a neurosurgeon; he is also interested in engineering. At Benton, in addition to excelling academically, he has played soccer for four years, has been part of the academic team for four years and caption for two, plays bass in jazz band, is part of the strings program, and is the Vice President of Benton’s National Honors Society. During the summer, he was part of Missouri Boys State, a week-long leadership program where students create a mock state government. He has also been an altar boy at St. Patrick Church for several years, where, he said he has learned to be humble, be a leader, and be a better person: “It has really shaped my life.”

“I think it’s great to see a student as outstanding as he is be rewarded and recognized,” said Benton Vice Principal Michele Thomason. “He is an outstanding kid and he is meant to do great things. I see this as recognition for all of the work he’s put in and everything he’s contributed to Benton.”

Hidalgo wants to thank everyone who has been in his life. “They are the reason I am where I am. I also want to thank the counseling center at Benton for letting me bug them all this time with all of the paperwork for the application. It’s been a ride.”