Congratulations to Thu Tran ’26, who has been admitted to Washington and Lee University with a full four-year QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition, room and board, and living expenses. QuestBridge is a national nonprofit organization that connects exceptional students with educational, career, and life opportunities. 

Thu, an international student from Vietnam, was at home with her host family when she learned that she’d been accepted to Washington and Lee. 

“My heart was racing the whole day,” she said. “I got home around 7 p.m., and my American dad had made my favorite dinner. I wanted to wait until after dinner to check my email, but my American mom was so anxious that she insisted I open the decision first, saying we could celebrate afterward if it was good news.” With shaking hands, Thu clicked the “Status Update” link on her online application.

“When I saw that I had been matched to Washington and Lee University with a full ride, I was overcome with joy,” she said. “My dream had come true. I immediately called my Vietnamese mom, who was getting my brother ready for school. She was overjoyed. Soon after, both sides of my family knew the news. It was one of the most significant days of my life. I barely slept that night because I was so excited to share the news with my Steward college counselors, teachers, and friends. Every time I told someone, I cried, and each time, they gave me the warmest hugs.”

At Washington and Lee, Thu plans to pursue neuroscience and business administration majors, and a computer science minor. She also hopes to participate in the Bonner Program, a leadership development program for students interested in service and social responsibility. “I’m so excited for this new journey!” she said. 

Thu joined the Steward community in her junior year. 

“My first impression of the school actually came before I officially enrolled — through attending varsity basketball games,” recalled Thu. “One of my most memorable experiences was the Steward Invitational, when Upper School students were dismissed early to support the players. The school spirit and sense of unity were so strong, and I immediately felt that Steward was a place where people lift up each other.”

During Thu’s first week at Steward, “teachers checked in with me outside of class, asking if I needed help or how they could support my transition,” she noted. “Friends invited me to sit with them at lunch, making me feel welcomed right away. Steward is truly my extended family.”

Like all Upper Schoolers, Thu has worked closely with Steward’s College Counseling team, including Director Heather Jeter, to prepare for life after Steward. She met regularly with members of the team, which helped build her confidence as she embarked on the college application process. 

“Thanks to Steward’s individualized approach, the counselors know students on a personal level and help match us with colleges that fit not only our academic goals but also our values and character,” said Thu. With 15 colleges on her “maybe” list, Thu noted, “There is no way I could have completed all those applications without the College Counseling team.” The staff reviewed and edited Thu’s application essays, provided constructive feedback, and addressed her questions and concerns. Eventually, Thu set her sights on Washington and Lee.

Because QuestBridge had very early deadlines, Associate Director of College Counseling and World Languages Teacher Khadijah Luqman reached out to Thu to come up with a plan of action, and the two worked together to stay on track.  

“I vividly remember the final deadline: November 1,” recalled Thu. “That morning, while I was making last-minute edits to my application essay, Sra. Luqman and Mrs. Jeter were right by my side. I am incredibly grateful to the entire College Counseling team for their unwavering support.”

Thu also turned to the College Counseling staff for guidance when she was searching for internship opportunities.

“I talked to Mrs. Jeter, and a few days later, she handed me a list of about 25 programs that aligned with my interests,” recalled Thu. “That level of support shows how the College Counseling team uses data, experience, and personal insight to guide students toward meaningful opportunities.” Thu also contacted Head of School Dan Frank, hoping he might have some advice.

“He shared that he knew Dr. Kim Penberthy, a professor in psychiatric medicine and a clinical researcher at UVA [and the mother of Morgan Penberthy ’13],” said Thu. “She and I had a Zoom meeting, and she walked me through a manuscript she was in the process of writing." Working alongside a team of experienced researchers, Thu contributed to sections of the paper, “Neural Correlates of Grief and Trauma,” which was submitted to the Journal of Traumatic Stress. 

Dr. Penberthy said, “We were thrilled to have Thu join our research team remotely and contribute to our interdisciplinary work. Thu joined a faculty team spanning psychiatry, religious studies, neuroimaging, and philosophy to conduct an integrative review of the neural substrates implicated in grief and trauma-related processes. Over the course of the year, she attended meetings and invested dozens of hours in careful literature searching, reading, synthesis, and writing.” She added, “Thu’s ability to integrate complex material across disciplines stood out — her writing is clear, nuanced, and well-organized, and her follow-through and attention to detail were consistently excellent. We are deeply appreciative of Thu’s dedication and the intellectual rigor she brought to the project. ”

A second research opportunity, at the University of Richmond, was a 10-week, full-time summer experience in which Thu teamed up with three undergraduate students. 

“Our work included extracting DNA and RNA from bacterial cultures and injecting ion channels into frog cells to study their biological mechanisms,” explained Thu. “I learned invaluable skills through close collaboration with the lab team. This experience also played a significant role in my college applications.”

“Thu has the stick-to-it-iveness of a true scholar — someone who is curious by nature, hardworking, and willing to learn by both mistakes and triumphs,” said Mrs. Jeter. “We are exceptionally proud of her.”

In 2025, Thu’s remarkable 2024 PSAT score earned her recognition as a Commended Student from the National Merit Scholarship Program. “Steward’s rigorous curriculum helped me build confidence and strengthen my skills,” said Thu. “I was honored to be recognized as a Commended Student.”

Thu, who serves as president of Steward’s National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, said these roles “allow me to collaborate with like-minded peers and grow as a leader. I especially enjoy creating opportunities for service and academic engagement that benefit the broader community.” She also shares her Spartan pride as an Admissions Ambassador, welcoming new families to campus, sharing her personal experiences, and proudly talking about how special the Steward community is. 

“The best part about being a Spartan is knowing that you are always supported academically, emotionally, and personally by a community that truly believes in you and wants to see you succeed,” said Thu.