4 SIS seniors selected as Questbridge National College Match finalists

Saipan International School is thrilled to announce that four of its seniors—Ian Song, Jackie Zhen, MJ Magno, and Christian Newman—have been named finalists in the prestigious Questbridge National College Match Program. This marks the first time in the school’s history that four students have been recognized as finalists in the same year.

With a senior class of just 26 students, the selection of these four scholars represents nearly one-fifth of the graduating class. Questbridge finalists are chosen based on their outstanding academic performance, leadership potential, and commitment to their communities, placing them among the top students nationwide.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Ian, Jackie, MJ, and Christian for this remarkable achievement,” said Dr. Ron Snyder, headmaster. “Their success reflects their hard work, the support from their families, and the dedication of our faculty to fostering academic excellence.”

SIS’ robust Advanced Placement program, which includes the highly respected AP Capstone program, has been instrumental in helping these students reach this level of success. The AP Capstone program encourages students to develop critical thinking, research, and communication skills through AP Seminar and AP Research. These courses, along with a widest selection of AP offerings in the CNMI, have provided students with rigorous college-level academic experiences.

In recognition of its commitment to advanced academics, SIS has also been named to the AP Honor Roll with Platinum distinction, highlighting the school’s success in providing high-quality AP programs to its students. “The Questbridge finalists are an incredible example of how our AP program helps students excel not only in academics but also in preparing for highly competitive opportunities,” said Angela Taflinger, SIS counselor. “Their achievements reflect the strength of our AP courses and the dedication of our students to pursue excellence.”

As Questbridge finalists, Song, Zhen, Magno, and Newman now have the opportunity to be matched with one of the organization’s 50+ partner colleges, which include some of the most prestigious universities in the nation, and could receive full four-year scholarships.

SIS is a premier educational institution in the Northern Mariana Islands, providing a well-rounded and rigorous curriculum from pre-K to 12th grade. With a focus on academic excellence, leadership, and community service, SIS prepares students for success in a global society. (PR)