JPII High School celebrates first-ever scholarship celebration

St. John Paul II High School in Avondale held its first scholarship celebration on Monday, Sept. 21, to introduce juniors and seniors to early merit-based funding opportunities.

The event utilized a new partnership with VU Scholarships, an education technology platform that allows colleges and universities to proactively offer scholarships to students before they submit applications. Assistant principal of academics Sr. Rita Marie Campa said the platform uses student GPA and standardized test scores to show each student the specific amount they could be awarded based on merit.

The program aims to help students discover college possibilities they might not otherwise find and build confidence in their academic abilities. The VU Scholarships model was originally conceived in 2014 by Edward Márquez and was formally launched as a company in 2021 by Dan Poblete and Andrew Marquez.