Skip To Main Content

Mobile CTA

header navs

CTA

74 district students honored at banquet as 2023 South Carolina Junior Scholars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

BEAUFORT – More than 70 Beaufort County eighth-graders were honored tonight for being named Junior Scholars by the South Carolina Department of Education.

The students and their parents were recognized at a Junior Scholars Banquet sponsored by the Beaufort County School District. 

There may be pressures and competition that seem daunting, but through it all, doing your best will get you were you need to be.

Michael Denison, Beaufort High School Graduate and MIT Student

“These students have shown phenomenal potential, as their selection as Junior Scholars demonstrates,” said Rodriguez. “I know they will work hard on achieving their potential, and it will be our educators’ joy to support them on this journey.”

The banquet’s featured speaker was Michael Denison, a Beaufort High School senior accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who shared his experiences since being named a Junior Scholar in middle school, lending a motivational perspective. “If you can continue with more success on tests in high school, there are some fantastic opportunities ahead of you,” said Denison. “There may be pressures and competition that seem daunting, but through it all, doing your best will get you were you need to be.”

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.

Media is welcome to email Communications Officer Candace Bruder for a list of junior scholar names from the schools in your respective coverage area(s).