Briana Neal Is Holy Innocents' Quest Scholar

Briana Neal, a senior at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School (HIES), has been named one of only 657 high school seniors to be awarded full, four-year scholarships with admission to highly selective colleges through the QuestBridge National College Match. Brie is the first Quest Scholar from Holy Innocents’ and will be the first HIES student to enroll at the University of Chicago since 2002.

QuestBridge matches talented high school seniors with full scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. Each student selected for the College Match is paired with a partner college—admitted with a guaranteed full, four-year scholarship, including tuition, room and board, and other expenses.

“The caliber of this year’s College Matches was exceptional,” noted HIES Assistant Director of College Counseling Warren Quirett. QuestBridge received 13,364 applications from around the country and from that group 4,895 students were selected as finalists, he explained. In addition to having an average, unweighted GPA of 3.91, QuestBridge scholars this year received between 1890-2140 on the SAT (out of 2400), and between 29-33 on the ACT (out of 36). Academically, 96 percent rank in the top 10 percent of their class, including 28 percent who rank first in their class.

Quirett described Brie Neal as a powerhouse student with a brilliant mind, inquisitiveness, charisma, and optimism. “She has captivated our school’s community since she entered through our doors in the sixth grade, and in all aspects of her life, Brie demonstrates the characteristics we try to instill into every one of our student leaders—passion, commitment, and inspiration.

“She will bring a dynamic presence to any college campus and contribute greatly to the student community.”

At Holy Innocents’, Brie has played on the girls’ varsity golf team, participated in several clubs, and served as president of the Student Diversity Leadership Council. “She has a high aptitude and involvement, and was able to overcome a difficult circumstance in her life and maintain her focus to optimize opportunities as an A Better Chance scholar,” said Director of Community Outreach Keith White.

“She’s championed inclusion, and found her own voice within.”

Brie praised Holy Innocents’ for helping her to find that voice. “I feel as if my time here has developed me into an individual that no other place could have,” she said. “Here, I have had teachers and other faculty members push me to see my potential inside and outside of the classroom. I have been exposed to many things both within the school community and those globally, and I have been encouraged to go after several leadership positions.”

She is considering studying economics or international studies at the University of Chicago.