2 Salinas high school scholars accepted to Ivy League schools with full-ride scholarships
The Salinas area featured many bright young scholars this past school year and some have received full-ride scholarships to prestigious universities across the country.
"It was like a huge weight off my shoulders. Not only getting to go to such an incredible university but it's going to be affordable for me and my family," said Michael Ndubsis, a North Salinas High School 2021 graduate.
Ndubisi is on his way to Yale University in Connecticut with a four-year scholarship.
"I was really excited," Ndubisi said. "I was terrified of the idea of having to go to school and go into debt."
Ndubisi originally had Hartnell as a backup since he was taking classes there already during high school. He is part of his family's first generation to go to college and the first in his family to attend an Ivy League school. He plans to study political science.
"I've also been really interested in having a positive impact on people's lives and I think the government is one of those efficient ways to do that," said Ndubisi.
Alisal High School graduate Mario Carillo-Bello also received a prosperous scholarship to attend a four-year college.
He applied through Quest Bridge, a national coalition offering four-year college scholarships to high achieving and low-income students.
Carillo-Bello will attend Columbia University in New York City on a full-ride scholarship to study mechanical engineering with an environmental emphasis.
"As we know carbon emissions and all that pollution all we've done to our earth is not good for the environment. I want to revert that and sent that," said Carillo-Bello.
Carillo-Bello will be the first in his family to attend college. His decision to go, he said, heavily relied on getting financial help.
"It means a lot because we can't afford it. I come from a field working family where they get minimum wage. And it's something I don't want my parents to have that burden on," Carillo-Bello said.
Both young men plan to pay it forward while being symbols of inspiration.
"For sure starting a nonprofit, to help students from Salinas get into college as well," Carillo-Bello said.
"Regardless where it is that you come, what you look like or anything else, you can achieve the highest pinnacle of success if you really work hard towards it," Ndubisi said.