Marshall Teen Wins Full MIT Scholarship Worth $320K

Marshall High School senior Nouh Dahir is proof that small-town students can achieve big dreams.

Nouh earned admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a full four-year scholarship through the QuestBridge National College Match program. The program connects exceptional students from low-income backgrounds with full scholarships to top universities, covering tuition, room, board, and expenses worth over $80,000 per year.

Only 2,550 students nationwide received this honor out of nearly 20,000 applicants. Nouh was among them, representing his community of Marshall, Minnesota, at one of the world's most competitive technical universities.

The Marshall school board celebrated Nouh's achievement at their Tuesday night meeting as part of their monthly Tiger Spotlight tradition. Teachers and administrators recognized his dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and perseverance as setting a remarkable example for his peers.

Nouh wasn't the only student celebrated that evening. The board also honored outstanding students from every school in the district, from first-grader Madison Nguyen's exceptional writing skills to Area Learning Center student Johnny Martell-Lozano's incredible personal and academic growth.

Why This Inspires

Stories like Nouh's remind us that talent exists everywhere, not just in wealthy zip codes. QuestBridge was founded on this principle, believing that high-achieving students shouldn't be held back by financial circumstances.

Marshall's community clearly shares that belief. By celebrating Nouh alongside elementary students and alternative learning center attendees, they're sending a powerful message that every student's progress matters and deserves recognition.

Nouh's journey to MIT likely involved countless hours of studying, test preparation, essay writing, and teacher recommendations. Behind every scholarship winner stands a team of educators, family members, and community supporters who believed in their potential.

When Nouh heads to Cambridge, Massachusetts this fall, he'll carry Marshall with him, joining MIT's community of innovators, scientists, and problem-solvers who are working to tackle the world's biggest challenges.