Southside senior receives full scholarship to Columbia University

Zoe Ring

A Southside Charter High School senior is heading to an Ivy League campus with a full four-year scholarship.

Zoe Ring has been admitted to Columbia University as a QuestBridge National College Match Scholar, a distinction that provides early admission and covers the full cost of attendance for four years, according to a release from the Southside School District.

“This opportunity means more to me than I can put into words,” Ring said in the release. She said the scholarship affirms years of hard work and family sacrifice and opens the door to pursue her education at her dream school.

Ring has posted a 4.1 grade-point average and a 32 ACT superscore while holding leadership roles in organizations, including Beta Club, Key Club, and Spanish Club. She has also completed more than 170 hours of community service through outreach and enrichment programs.

In addition to her academic and service commitments, Ring is a classical pianist and a member of her school’s honor choir. She plans to follow a pre-medical track at Columbia, with long-term goals of becoming a physician specializing in dermatology or oncology.

Ana Rowena Mallari, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge, said this year’s Match Scholarship recipients reflect excellence and potential. She said the organization has seen scholars make lasting impacts on their families and communities for more than 30 years.

QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with partner colleges. The Match Scholarship, provided by the college, covers tuition, housing, meals, books, supplies, and travel, without loans or a required parental contribution.

Image via Southside School District