Four Key to Change Violin Students Accepted to Harvard Summer School on Full Scholarship

Four violin students from Key to Change have been accepted to attend the prestigious Secondary School Program at Harvard Summer School this summer, earning full scholarships to participate in the highly competitive seven-week residential academic program.

Justice Johnson (Highline High School), Natalie Anderson (West Seattle High School), Avi Spillers (Mount Rainier High School), and Chris Ramirez-Eligio (Renton High School) were each selected for the program and will spend seven weeks living and studying on Harvard’s campus while taking college-level courses alongside students from around the world.

All four students are currently juniors in high school and violinists in the Key to Change program. Each began studying violin with Key to Change during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since developed both musically and academically through the organization’s intensive instruction, mentorship, and academic support.

Through their acceptance, the students will receive a full scholarship covering tuition, housing, meals, and round-trip airfare, removing the financial barriers that often prevent talented students from accessing elite academic opportunities.

Their participation in the program was made possible through Key to Change’s partnership with the Harvard Division of Continuing Education, which created a pathway for eligible students in the Key to Change program to apply to the Secondary School Program at Harvard Summer School with full financial support if accepted.

The Secondary School Program allows high school students to take college-level courses while experiencing life on Harvard’s campus. Participants may enroll in more than 200 courses for college credit and gain firsthand experience navigating college academics, residence halls, and campus life while studying alongside peers from across the globe.

Through the partnership, Harvard Extension School covers 50% of tuition, housing, and meal plan costs, while Key to Change covers the remaining 50% and provides additional support for travel expenses, ensuring that cost is not a barrier for students who are accepted into the program.

“Dr. Quinton Morris’s work at Key to Change aligns closely with the Harvard Division of Continuing Education’s commitment to education that is accessible, flexible, affordable, and designed for impact,” said Nancy Coleman, Dean of the Harvard Division of Continuing Education. “As a Harvard Extension School alumnus, his leadership makes this partnership especially meaningful, deepening the connection between our institutions and creating new opportunities for Key to Change students to engage in Harvard coursework and earn academic credit.”

For Key to Change, the partnership represents an important expansion of its mission to support student success beyond music instruction.

“Our students have extraordinary potential, and they deserve access to the same opportunities available to students anywhere,” said Dr. Quinton Morris, founder and director of Key to Change. “Through our partnership with Harvard, we are able to create pathways that allow our students to experience college-level learning at one of the world’s leading universities while building the confidence and preparation they need for their future.”

“I would have never seen myself outside of Washington studying. I was motivated to apply to Harvard by being Second Generation and not seeing representation of academics as a strength in my family,” said Chris Ramirez-Eligio, one of the accepted students. “Key to Change was a great support; the mentorship that Dr. Morris gives students is incredible. I’m looking forward to both the rigorous college experience but also the friendships and the connections.”

Immersive academic experiences such as the Secondary School Program often have a lasting impact on students from historically underserved communities. Participants return with increased confidence, stronger preparation for college applications, and a deeper sense of belonging within rigorous academic environments.

Students also build meaningful relationships with professors, staff, and peers from around the world while gaining exposure to academic disciplines and professional pathways they may not have previously considered.