National Award Program Recognizes Exceptionally Gifted 7th Grade Students
PASADENA, CA – 07/30/2026 – The Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative and personal growth of the nation’s gifted and advanced learners, is celebrating 24 years of supporting gifted learners’ education through the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship (CDB). Founded in 2002, this national award program is the only merit-based, need-blind scholarship recognizing exceptional academic achievement in gifted seventh graders. This year, 54 students have been named Finalists.
This year’s Finalists come from all corners of the United States including Alaska, Florida, New York, California and Hawaii. Their areas of interest are just as varied spanning many academic disciplines and extracurricular activities. The Finalists will move on to the next round in the application process. Scholarship recipients will be announced in the fall.
Students selected as Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Finalists are recognized for their exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and future potential. Finalists who are not ultimately selected as Caroline D. Bradley Scholars receive a $1,000 award in recognition of their accomplishments and to support their continued educational and intellectual growth. They are also invited to attend one of IEA’s 2027 Yunasa summer camps through an exclusive opportunity available only to Finalists where they can further develop their talents, build lasting friendships, and become part of a vibrant community of gifted peers.
“The 2026 Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Finalists are among the most remarkable young minds we’ve seen in our 24-year history,” said Deborah Monroe, President, IEA. These students don’t just excel academically; they dive deeply into their passions and approach the world’s challenges with creativity and heart. IEA celebrates each and every one of them.”
Caroline D. Bradley Scholars receive a prestigious four-year scholarship that covers full high school tuition at an optimally matched school or through an individualized education plan. Scholars also benefit from ongoing, personalized counseling and educational advocacy provided by IEA.
Interested seventh grade students apply for the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship and complete a rigorous portfolio application process, which includes essays, middle school transcripts, letters of recommendation and a work sample. Eligible applicants must also achieve scores at the highest level on nationally normed standardized tests.
The Finalists
Simran Adnani – Troy, MI
Dylan Aumer-Wong – Honolulu, HI
Alastair Ayandele – Los Angeles, CA
Augustus Bikel – Los Angeles, CA
Emmett Brown – Chicago, IL
Cosette Buechele – NYC, NY
Max Cao – Dallas, TX
Xavier Cherkas – Houston, TX
Timothy Chong – Dallas, TX
Aria Chung – Wilson, WY
Janet Contreras – Los Angeles, CA
David Edorh – Mankato, MN
Lana Finley – Los Angeles, CA
Luana Fitch – Haiku, HI
Luca Flore – Los Angeles, CA
Caleb Garner – Riverdale, GA
Lyric Gibbons – Orlando, FL
Kenji Goto – New York, NY
Camille Guillemet – View Park, CA
Temple Harris – Portland, OR
Emi Honda – Cupertino, CA
Gavin Hwang – Los Altos, CA
Danah Jang – Westlake, OH
Daniel Kim – Sherman Oaks, CA
Landon Koh – Flushing, NY
Nora Lee – Huntingdon Valley, PA
Milana Lee – Frisco, TX
Clara Lefer – New York, NY
Andreas Li – Menlo Park, CA
Antonio Lin – Irvine, CA
West Lough – Pasadena, CA
Cynthia Lu – Fremont, CA
Lisa Lu – Johnston, IA
Anita Matsuura – Northfield, MN
Ruth McClenning – Westport, CT
Solomon Methvin – Forest Grove, OR
Mila Milliken Lord – Wind Lake, WI
Camille Nguyen – Anchorage, AK
Sunay Patel – Edison, NJ
Josiah Reinken – Indian Trail, NC
Nikhil Rao Sabnis – Cupertino, CA
Annabella Sakunkoo – Palo Alto, CA
Aum Sharma – Dodge City, KS
Evelyn Shen – Campbell, CA
Jeffrey Stubblefield – East Ridge, TN
Johnathan Thomas – Lafayette, CA
Obiamaka Udeozo – Plano, TX
Adarsh Venkannagari – Acton, MA
Lacey Wang – Woodbridge, CT
Julian Wilkes – Pasadena, CA
Landon Xu – Sharon, MA
Sophie Yuan – Sugar Land, TX
Hannah Zhu – Los Angeles, CA
Angie Zhu – Potomac, MD
Gordon Zhuo – New York, NY
About IEA
The Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of IEA is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. IEA seeks to connect gifted individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, IEA supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit www.educationaladvancement.org.
About the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Program
IEA’s Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Program is one of the few U.S. high school scholarship programs that is need-blind and awarded solely on the basis of merit to highly gifted seventh graders. Since its inception in 2002, the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship has served over 450 students with academic and personal support, high school tuition and a lifelong network for mentorship and peer connections. The award is generously funded by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.