Opening Doors: Three LEAD Southeast Sophomores Chosen for Prestigious Nashville Scholars Initiative
Three LEAD Southeast High School sophomores have earned a place in one of Nashville’s most competitive college access programs, the Nashville Scholars Initiative. Each year, only a small group of students is initiated, making the program highly selective, and this year, Susan Villegas-Rodriguez, Anas Hirsi, and Sergio Lopez were chosen to join the cohort.
The Nashville Scholars Initiative (NSI), was created in response to a national gap in access to elite higher education for economically disadvantaged students. NSI is rooted in closing these equity gaps in higher education, reinforcing the belief that every student deserves a fair path to college, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
“At its core, NSI focuses on providing postsecondary preparation to students who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities,” said Genna Yonge, college counselor at LEAD Southeast High School. “(This program) guides their students towards admission and persistence at highly selective institutions across the nation by providing ACT/SAT preparation courses, leadership skills development, college trips and fly-in programs, and college application assistance. ”
Students apply during their sophomore year, and if they are one of the 15 in Nashville selected, they’ll remain in the program through graduation.
For students like Anas Hirsi, being selected represents both an accomplishment and a pathway forward. “It gives me the opportunity to go to college and get support,” Anas said. “I’m a first-generation student, so my family doesn’t really know a lot about the process. I want more support with the college process, and NSI steps in to give me the support that I need.”
The program also provides clarity and confidence as students begin thinking about their futures. “It’s a great program and it gives us an opportunity to explore our choices,” said Susan Villegas-Rodriguez, one of the students selected. “If we don’t know what we want to do, NSI gives us the tools to help us decide our future goals.”
Sergio Lopez says the program stands out for how personalized the support is. “Apart from the college trips, NSI goes really in- depth into what you want to do, especially with what you want to major in in college or what future job you might want,” he said. “As long as you give them an idea, they’ll help you find a college program that works for you.”
Beyond academics, Sergio also emphasized the sense of community within the program. “Overall it’s a really great program, there is so much support and all of the students are working towards the same goals,” he said. “It’s nice talking to other people that are in the same boat as you.”
For many students, NSI opens doors that once felt uncertain or out of reach, offering not just resources, but a strong support system along the way. For Susan, Anas, and Sergio, being selected is more than an achievement, it’s the beginning of life after high school.
