Wheeling High School (WHS) continued its run of success in one of the nation’s most prestigious scholarship programs, as two graduating seniors have earned full-ride scholarships to top-tier universities. 

2026 WHS graduate Tyler Canale is bound for Washington University in St. Louis this fall while classmate William Li is off to Boston University. WHS now counts eight students in four years who have earned QuestBridge Scholarships, which, per its mission, “connects the nation’s brightest students … with leading institutions of higher education.”

QuestBridge asks applicants to rank their preferred universities and then “matches” successful applicants to one school from their list. But applying does not guarantee a scholarship. The process is rigorous, requiring multiple supplemental essays and additional writing supplements for each college to which students choose to apply.

Nationwide, more than 25,000 seniors apply each September, with only about 2,500 eventually earning full-ride, 4-year scholarships. 

For Tyler, a QuestBridge match means reducing financial burden on his father, who works two jobs. William concurs with the importance of financial relief, saying, “The opportunity for a full ride scholarship meant a lot to me because not only did it take the financial pressure off my family, it also felt like a huge accomplishment after four years of hard work.”

During his time at WHS, Tyler participated in every theater production as well as being part of the speech team. His leadership roles in these activities set the stage for membership in the National Honor Society, where he served as co-treasurer.

“Attending WashU means a lot to me,” Tyler said. “I think I will build a lot of connections there. It also means I can continue my ‘community focused’ mindset as WashU. is truly about community.”

While William says his academic passion lies in business and computer science,  he was involved in Math Team, DECA and orchestra at WHS.

While he found the three rounds of the QuestBridge application to be a bit stressful, William said he was “over the moon” to earn his match to Boston University. “For me, my dream school was always Boston.” he said. “Ever since I was little, Boston has been my favorite city and visiting over the summer solidified my choice. The culture is wonderful, and the business program offers many possibilities to work in Boston or New York after graduation.”

Both seniors thanked numerous District 214 educators for their support and assistance, both throughout their WHS careers and the QuestBridge application process. 

Previous WHS graduates have earned QuestBridge matches to Columbia, MIT, the University of Chicago, Washington University and Yale.

Joanne Amador-Zapata, a WHS counselor who has provided guidance over the years for Wheeling’s QuestBridge recipients, said: “Tyler and William are great examples of where hard work and passion can lead. This level of dedication and big dreams begins on day one and grows stronger throughout high school. They are not only academically talented students but also well-rounded and positive leaders within our school. I have had the privilege of being on this journey with them; the pure joy and relief shared at the final announcement in December is what makes me thrilled to watch both of them step into these exciting next chapters at WashU and Boston University.”