Nalani Sims
Nalani Sims, a senior at Chattanooga State Collegiate High, has been named a finalist in the highly competitive 2024 QuestBridge National College Match, Mari.
Marie Mott of Hutchins Academy said, "Out of more than 25,500 applicants, she is among the 7,288 finalists chosen - cementing her place as one of the brightest young minds in STEM. She will graduate in the spring of 2025 with both her high school diploma and an associate degree, an incredible accomplishment that speaks to her commitment and academic excellence.
"Nalani plans to pursue aerospace engineering, with her sights set on building rockets and space components. She has ranked Stanford, Caltech, and MIT as her top choices for the College Match program. Nalani’s achievement is a moment of pride for Chattanooga, especially for young black women in STEM who are too often underrepresented in these spaces."
“For the first time, I felt like my intelligence was truly seen,” Nalani said. “As a black girl in STEM, it’s easy to feel overlooked. But being named a QuestBridge finalist proves that hard work, passion, and support can overcome any barriers. I’m honored to represent my community and hope to inspire other girls to believe we belong in these fields.”
Ms. Mott said Nalani marks Hutchins Academy’s second QuestBridge National College Match finalist in two years - following in the footsteps of Maurquez Thompson, Brainerd High School’s 2023 valedictorian and current sophomore at Stanford University.
She said, “Nalani’s achievement is a powerful example of what’s possible when young talent is nurtured and given the support to excel. At Hutchins, we’re not just preparing students for college admissions - we’re cultivating leaders. Having two QuestBridge finalists in two consecutive years demonstrates the incredible potential of our students, and we couldn’t be prouder of Nalani for breaking barriers and paving the way for others.”