Anonymous donor recognizes OHS student, teacher
Mar. 28—An Odessa High School student and teacher received a donation from an anonymous donor Monday.
The donor requested that the Odessa American give it to them and wish them all the best. The student is QuestBridge scholar Rigoberto Mendoza and the teacher is English teacher David Newman.
"It was nice of your paper to recognize academic achievements especially for students from disadvantaged background(s)," the donor said in a letter to Editor Laura Dennis.
Mendoza, an 18-year-old senior at Odessa High School, was matched to Emory University through the QuestBridge National College Match.
He found out about QuestBridge through his friend Evan Haley, who was matched to Princeton University a couple of years ago. Also, Mendoza said his English teacher David Newman pushed his students to apply to the program.
"The way QuestBridge works is you rank schools and the first school that wants you, you'll get matched with them," Mendoza said. "That's how that's how every became my match."
Both were pleased with the contribution.
"When people are learners for the sake of learning, and he is, and a lot of other people in his IB (International Baccalaureate) cohort, our data is all the reward I need," Newman said. "And on a lot of days that's the only reason that I come to school. That's because I do have students who are interested in learning for the sake of learning. There are other things that make me not want to come to school, but students like Rigo and other IB students, I especially want to emphasize the IB part, they are the reasons because they are not showing up to get something to pass go and go onto the next. They're showing up because they really are intellectually curious. ... I can't describe how unique and precious those kinds of stories are."
Mendoza said the donation will help him.
"I feel really grateful because on top of the scholarships, there's still people out there reaching out and giving more than I've already received. Yes, it will definitely help me. I'll probably save this money to use over there in college instead of spending it here," Mendoza said.
OHS College and Career Advisor Angelica Moreno said she doesn't have enough words about Mendoza's achievements.
"... He just keeps going. I'm amazed by everything that he does and I think that it is awesome that someone in the community not only recognizes it, but decided to do this for this young man," Moreno said.
