November 2, 2022
When Kylan Denney was just a freshman at Humble High School, one of her friends told her about a scholarship program called QuestBridge.
It is a program that “connects the nation’s brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities”, according to the QuestBridge website. Every year roughly 18,000 students apply for the program nationwide.
On October 19, Denney, who had submitted her application for the National College Match program in late September, found out she had been chosen as one of roughly 4,000 nationwide finalists.
“I was really excited to tell my family about it,” Denney said. “I’m one of five kids. So, it’s a lot to put kids through college and I know it is really expensive. I really want to do well for myself. It is the first step in the right direction towards being able to have my college paid for and not having to worry my parents about how they’re going to pay for it.”
On December 1, Denney will find out if she has been matched with a college. Her top pick is Columbia University followed by USC, Vanderbilt, Rice and Amherst College.
Humble High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator Rene Lane is not surprised that Denney was chosen as a finalist. Lane is just glad that the committee saw what they see in her every single day.
“Her enthusiasm and internal drive never wavers,” Lane said. “We know her but with committees and especially with 18,000 kids a year applying for these kinds of things, you worry that they’re not going to see it through papers or letters. But it’s really nice that they can see her dedication and her love of education.”
Denney’s journey to this day started in the spring, when she applied for and was accepted into the College Prep Scholars program by QuestBridge. She was chosen out of roughly 16,000 nationwide applicants.
Applying for the program was no easy feat since Denney already has a very busy schedule.
At Humble High School, Denney is the President of the Humble HS Poetry Club, Head Drum Major of the Marching Band, Vice President of the National Honor Society, Student Senate Leader for the Senior Class, a member of the Spanish Club and a part of the National Champion Winter Guard.
Kylan Denney is Head Drum Major of the Humble High School Wildcat Marching Band
“I have really good time management,” Denney said with a smile. “I think that helped a lot with applying, managing marching band practice after school and going to all the different meetings.”
Denney is also currently ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2023 at Humble High School.
“I’m still trying to get Valedictorian,” she said. “We’ll find out in January when final ranks come out.”
Denney is a Full Diploma IB student at Humble High School, meaning that she takes a full course load of six IB classes.
“I think it really helped me with time management and being able to critically think in essay writing in particular,” “A lot of IB is open-ended essays and exams. It helped me to be intentional with my time and how I complete my assignments and the structure of my writing and research.”
The IB Diploma Program is a two-year program that starts in the 11th grade, and IB exams are taken at the end of the senior year.
Being in this program guarantees that she will leave with a minimum of 24 college credits for a Texas Public University. Most IB Diploma students leave with 30 or more credits, according to Lane. On average a student in the IB program will have between 15 to 18 college credit hours upon graduation.
Denney is the fourth consecutive finalist for the QuestBridge National College Match Program from the Humble High School IB Diploma Program.
“It just means that this program works, especially for schools like ours,” Lane said. “AP, I’ve taught it and it is a good program. But it is one year and one test. But this is based on the students’ critical thinking and developing their own perspectives because they’ve studied so much.
“For the IB staff it shows us that we’re in the right spot and we’re doing things that matter.”
On December 1, Denney is hoping that Columbia University comes across the screen, considering it is her top choice.
Denney wants to study English and psychology and potentially minor in creative writing or Spanish. She wants to go the pre-law route.
“I want to try and do International Law,” she said. “That combines a lot of my interest in creative writing, public speaking, Spanish and being able to meet and help people.”
Denney has had a busy senior year thus far and with all of this happening and her hard work coming to fruition, it may all sink in at some point but for now she’s just enjoying the ride.
“I don’t think it’s completely sunk in yet. I’m still in the mix with high school and just being busy all the time,” Denney said. “I feel like it will sink in at the end of the Fall semester. Whatever happens, I’m going to be wherever I’m meant to be. It just makes me happy that everything I’ve worked for up to this point is paying off in some way or another and I’m making my family proud.
“It would just mean the first step towards success for me. I know wherever I go I’m going to make the most of the opportunities I’ll have there.”
More Information on the Humble High School International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
The IB Diploma Program is a highly respected, highly credible, complete educational program that prepares students for success beyond the classroom and is recognized by the world's leading colleges and universities. The IB courses offer a college-level curriculum with international-mindedness at the high school level.
All Humble ISD 10th grade students interested in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program will need to complete a school transfer application as well as the IB application.