For Erik Pritchard, the key to opportunity was being ready and willing when it knocked.

The Wright City senior has long possessed a big vision for his future, but he was befuddled by the thought of incurring massive debt through college loans. He was determined, but intimidated.

“I had been kind of cynical about the thought of going to college,” said Pritchard. “I had always wanted to go so I could get a job in a STEM field, but the mountain of debt I would accumulate is really scary.”

Thanks to his proactive response to an opportunity presented by his robotics coach, Pritchard will be able to pursue his college plans without the burden of having to pay back a lender. And he will not have to compromise the quality of his education either.

Pritchard was awarded a QuestBridge Scholarship, which affords him four years free of cost at the University of Pennsylvania, a coveted Ivy League school.

“This is so liberating, because I can do whatever I want now, because somebody was willing to take a chance on me,” said Pritchard. “Now the only scary part is how far I’m moving away from home.”

Pritchard says he previously wasn’t aware of the opportunity and is grateful for the caring insight of the Wright City High School staff.

“I entirely owe it to the school, because I had no idea this existed, but now it’s defining my life,” said Pritchard, who tackled the rigorous application process of multiple essays and a financial review. 

The QuestBridge Scholarship is “designed for students who are high achieving but very low income,” explained Pritchard. “It’s set for families with an income of under $65,000.”

“One thing that I’ve really pushed is for everybody to have as many opportunities as possible and take advantage through scholarships and achievement, giving themselves the chance to open as many doors as possible,” said Principal Matt Brooks.

Pritchard says resources are limited in his family, which includes his mom and two siblings, who are already pursuing their own post-secondary endeavors. 

“I’m taken care of now, so we can focus on helping them now,” said a relieved Pritchard.

There is still of plenty of work ahead, but perhaps the most difficult barrier, paying for college, is out out of the way. Pritchard will enjoy a break from the admissions process, after applying to 10 different prestigious schools. The QuestBridge criteria requires that you accept the first school that offers the scholarship and drop all other applications. 

For Pritchard, that wasn’t a concern, as Penn was his heart and vote, despite its unfamiliarity. 

“I found out about Penn through the scholarship,” said Pritchard. “When I was applying I did my research on the school and found out more about them and they became a really good choice.”

Pritchard feels he can obtain the high quality education from an esteemed university, without the overwhelming pressure that comes with attending other Ivy League schools.

“They had an open atmosphere that was very research and knowledge driven,” said Pritchard

“For them they’re really focused on the material itself. They want to make sure you’re learning and understanding. They’re not so focused on requirements.”

Finding a place where he could fit in for the long term was important, as he is considering at least a masters, if not a doctorate in engineering or physics.

“I felt more of a personal connection with Penn by the end of it, because they gave me another interview with an alumni that went there,” said Pritchard. “It lasted several hours and was deep and invigorating talk.”

Pritchard’s ultimate goal is to work for the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

“He’s got sort of a beautiful mind and is very adept to critical thought,” said Brooks. “He can analyze situations and come up with some impressive answers. That’s something that’ll make him stand out amongst peers a lot of times.”