WHITTIER – Three Whittier High School seniors have taken a significant step closer to achieving their dreams of attending a top-tier university after high school by securing coveted spots in the prestigious and highly-selective University of Southern California’s (USC) Bovard Scholars program.

The USC Bovard Scholars program connects underrepresented, first-generation students with higher education resources and coaching opportunities, helping them to gain admission and succeed at the nation’s top universities.

Whittier High seniors Diana Nguyen, Fabiola Ramirez and Cynthia Flores participated in a three-week intensive program this summer that began with a week of online preparation, followed by two weeks on USC’s campus free of charge. While on campus, students participated in college research, received advising from admissions coaches and information on testing and writing prep.

“Being a USC Bovard Scholar really opened my eyes to things that I never thought would be possible for me,” Nguyen said. “My college admissions coach helped me to refine my college list and inspired me to want to apply to Ivy League colleges that I wouldn’t have even considered before.”

Nguyen plans to apply to the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of California, Berkeley, along with Ivy League schools including Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Pennsylvania. She plans to major in biomedical science with hopes of pursuing a career in neuroscience.

“The USC Bovard Scholars program really helps to develop leadership and self-awareness in students,” Whittier High School counselor Mel Mancilla said. “After participating in the program, I can tell that all three of our students carry themselves differently and they are more comfortable taking on leadership roles in their communities.”

Nguyen, Ramirez and Flores will continue meeting with their college admission coaches once a month throughout the school year to provide aid and support during the college application process.

“Congratulations to our three Whittier High students for their awe-inspiring accomplishment in being chosen as Bovard Scholars,” Principal Tim Liggett said. “These students truly embody what it means to be a Cardinal with CLASS and we can’t wait to see everything they will accomplish after high school.”

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WUHSD_SCHOLARS1: (From left to right) Whittier High School seniors Diana Nguyen, Fabiola Ramirez, and Cynthia Flores were selected to be part of the University of Southern California’s highly-selective and prestigious Bovard Scholars program. This program connects underrepresented, first-generation students with higher education resources and coaching opportunities, helping them gain admission to the nation’s top universities.