For many students, getting into college can feel overwhelming. Between applications, essays, and financial aid forms the process can be difficult to navigate but Maurquez Thompson wants to help lessen the stress for students.
Thompson, a Chattanooga native and Brainerd High School graduate is now a rising senior at Stanford University. After earning prestigious scholarships that made it possible for him to attend one of the nation’s top universities, he now aims to invest in the next generation by launching a free college preparation program in his hometown.
“I’ve been fortunate,” he says. “There were people who believed in me. Now I’m thinking about the next generation of scholars back home.”
Partnering with longtime educators Ms. Janice Neal and Mrs. Rebecca Suttles, Thompson has created a program designed to equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and resources needed to pursue higher education successfully.
Suttles, who previously managed scholarship programs through a local foundation and now works at Howard School says, one of the biggest needs she sees is individualized attention.
“When you have hundreds of students, it’s difficult to have one-on-one conversations with everyone,” she says. “Those conversations are where you learn what students need and help them create a blueprint for success.”
Neal echoes this same point of view, saying many students simply haven’t been taught how to advocate for themselves.
“Student voice is critical,” she says. “We can’t expect young people to magically develop those skills without someone teaching and encouraging them.”
The free initiative will initially serve approximately 50 students from Brainerd High School and Howard School. Participants will receive personalized college preparation designed to help them navigate every major step of the admissions process.
While it is not a scholarship program, the mission is to prepare students to successfully compete for scholarships and college admission opportunities. Thompson says they will provide intensive and personalized college preparation sessions that include guidance on finding, applying for, and competing for scholarships.
Applications for the program are expected to open after the new school year begins. Information will be distributed through both Brainerd High School and the Howard School.
Before wrapping up our conversation, Thompson, Neal, and Suttles made it clear their long-term version is to build a culture where Chattanooga students see college as an attainable goal, not because the path is easy but because they know they don’t have to walk it alone.
“Our goal is to make sure students know that where they’re from doesn’t determine where they can go,” Thompson says. “It really takes a village.”
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