116 district students honored as 2026 South Carolina Junior Scholars
BEAUFORT – Beaufort County School District (BCSD) honored 116 eighth-graders for being named Junior Scholars by the South Carolina Department of Education.
The students and their parents were recognized at a Junior Scholars banquet held Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Bluffton High School.
The featured speaker was former Junior Scholar and Hilton Head Island High School student Elizabeth Markowitz, who will attend Dartmouth College this fall. Markowitz shared lessons from her high school experience, encouraging students to challenge themselves academically, embrace growth through setbacks, and get involved beyond the classroom.
“Success isn’t defined by a single grade, but by how you respond and grow from challenges,” Markowitz said. “Take risks, try new things, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone—that’s where the most meaningful growth happens.”
She also encouraged students to seek opportunities to make a positive impact in their school communities and to balance long-term goals with enjoying the high school experience.
The Junior Scholars Program was developed by the South Carolina Department of Education to identify eighth-graders with exceptional academic talent and to develop strategies for inclusion into special programs that facilitate intellectual growth, broaden individual interests, and promote scholastic achievement. The program includes a process for screening, identifying, and recognizing students with high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability. Eligible students include those whose PSAT/NMSQT scores are 550 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion or 530 or higher on the Mathematics portion.
Students who qualify as Junior Scholars receive an award of merit from the South Carolina Department of Education as well as information regarding summer academic experiences sponsored by South Carolina colleges and universities. They can use that special recognition to bolster their applications to colleges and universities.
This year’s BCSD Junior Scholars are:
Gavin Altman
Caitlin Anderson
Ainsley Backus
Thomas Banks
Kana Barbina
Ryan Bates
Addison Bausher
Walker Benson
Kaytlyn Blados
Avery Blesie
Alexis Bollino
Jaden Brantley
Gambit Capria
Kathryn Cechini
Antonella Chavez-Martinez
Jayden Chen
Bryce Chumney
Sofia Ciobanu
Emory Cooler
Amelia Cooper
Jociry Corrales-Alarcon
Eleanor Cox
Iler Creech
Olivia Cross
Shannon Crowe
Kensleigh Demars
Iris Devers
Kylie Dixon
Makayla Donaldson
Kimberly Dorris
Isabella Douglas
Kacey Dubon Portillo
Camila Duran-Duran
Peyton Elliott
Joseph Escudero
Dane Faus
Wenjin Feng
Nikayl Fields
Liam Fitzgerald
Kennedy Ford
Andrew Gooding
Lilah Gorrell
Camden Harrell
Skylar Harris
Madeline Healy
Jessie Hernandex Hernandez
Christopher Herring
Addison Hewett
Pepper Hewett
Ava Hodge
Isabella Houzar
Avery Howell
Sofia Jackson
Zalayah James
Madeline Kabala
Clara Kelly
Alec Kizer
Eva Landa
Hudson Lawson
Emma Leiti
Hannah Lin
Lauren Major
Aden Martinez
Victoria Martinez-Cruz
Ellie McIlwee
Lukas McKenzie
Mia McKenzie
Noemi Mendez Rodriguez
Matias Merida
Aaron Metropolis
Alexander Miranda
Laila Montag
Alexandra Murray
Layla Mustin
Sophie O’Reilly
Elijah Orr
Adia Paris
Emma Park
Liam Payne
Joseph Poulin
Mason Price
Mia Procida
Sophia Radermacher
Rickey Reinhardt
Aiden Richards
Ethan Rivera
Keegan Rucker
Robert Saleeby
Khloe Savage
Claire Schultz
Kian Schultz
Baker Scott
Sydnee Simmons
Emerson Smith
Solan Smith
Nolan Snow
Nora Sorlie
Ellis Speicher
Jayla Stephens
Alexander Sullivan
Caroline Sundling
Austin Swinehamer
Ava Tate
Andrew Tran
Dexter Turtle
Angel Uong
Gage Valentino
Ethan VanVreede
Kaylee VanWinkle
Henry Vaught
Elias Vincent
Vanessa Waiswa
Emma Wall
Elizabeth Wells
Jane Wommack
Yuchun Yang
“These students have shown phenomenal potential, as their selection as Junior Scholars demonstrates,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “I know they will work hard on achieving their dreams alongside our phenomenal educators who support them.”