CHATTANOOGA — Maurquez Thompson, a rising senior at Stanford University, announced a yearlong college access initiative for 40 to 50 students at Brainerd High School and The Howard School. Thompson will dedicate his entire $15,000 Donald A. Strauss Scholarship award to fund the community project in Chattanooga.

Thompson was one of 12 nationwide recipients of the scholarship, which requires committing at least 50% of the funds to a community service project. The program will provide intensive and customized college preparation. Application details will be shared in the coming months.

The program follows a 12-month timeline to align with the college application cycle. Participants and families will receive instruction on admissions and financial resources. Assessments will measure knowledge gains.

Rebecca Suttles, College and Career advisor at The Howard School, will help lead recruitment. Suttles previously served as director of scholarships for a local foundation. The initiative is seeking sponsorships for costs including student meals.

Janice Neal, assistant director of College and Career Success at Public Education Forward, said: "College access is about much more than completing applications. It is about helping students recognize their own potential and equipping them with the tools to make informed decisions about their futures. Maurquez's commitment to reinvesting in Chattanooga demonstrates the power of young people returning to create opportunities for the next generation."

Thompson was co-valedictorian of Brainerd High School's Class of 2023. He received admission offers from more than 40 colleges. "Brainerd High School was the only school in our district with a walk-through metal detector. For a decade, it ranked among the lowest-performing schools in Tennessee, at risk of state takeover. My journey from Brainerd to Stanford was not inevitable." Thompson said.