GCISD Collegiate Academy senior Erick Sanchez Martinez has been named a 2025 QuestBridge National College Match Recipient, earning a full four-year scholarship to attend Rice University.
The Match scholarship, funded by Rice University, covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, meals, books, supplies, and travel. Recipients also receive early admission.
Out of 7,026 finalists nationwide, only 2,550 seniors received the scholarship for demonstrating that they are prepared to excel on their college campus and beyond.
Sanchez Martinez, who plans to become a doctor, has excelled in rigorous high school courses and is on track to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree, a benefit of attending Collegiate Academy. CA was founded as an early college high school and is on the Tarrant County College Northeast campus. The school is an open enrollment campus.
Beyond the classroom, he serves as a captain of the school’s UIL Academics team, which competed at state, and interned at two hospitals this past summer.
“He is a leader amongst his peers,” said Principal Lauren Jackson. “He is approachable, and other students trust him to lead.”
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Sanchez Martinez recalled learning of the news.
“As a child of immigrant parents who never completed high school, it was a relief and a bittersweet moment for me to know I got into a top university with a full ride scholarship and that my parents don’t have to worry about it at all.”
He credits his school’s supportive environment and teacher Kristinia Haney who guided him through the application process.
QuestBridge began the program 30 years ago to match high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. In 2025, the organization matched students with 55 prestigious college partners.
“I was a bit nervous about applying because I wasn’t sure if I could make it as a finalist, but then I told myself, ‘I might as well try because I will never know if I never apply.”’
Congratulations Erick!
Collegiate Academy, an open enrollment campus, is currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Learn more at https://ca.gcisd.net/.