Staff reports
Beaufort County School District (BCSD) honored 27 eighth-graders in Northern Beaufort County 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.
“Success isn’t defined by a single grade, but by how you respond and grow from challenges,” former Junior Scholar and Hilton Head Island High School student Elizabeth Markowitz said.
Markowitz, the featured speaker, who will attend Dartmouth College this fall, encouraged the students to challenge themselves academically, embrace growth through setbacks, and get involved beyond the classroom.
“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 from northern Beaufort County are: Beaufort Middle School — Ainsley Backus, Dane Faus, Zalayah James, Alexander Miranda, Alexandra Murray, Layla Mustin, Emma Park, Rickey Reinhardt, Aiden Richards, Kian Schultz, Baker Scott; Lady’s Island Middle School — Eleanor Cox, Peyton Elliott, Eva Landa, Kaylee VanWinkle; Riverview Charter School — Clara Kelly, Hannah Lin, Lauren Major, Adia Paris, Nora Sorlie, Andrew Tran; Robert Smalls Leadership Academy — Makayla Donaldson, Noemi Mendez Rodriguez, Solan Smith, Jayla Stephens, Vanessa Waiswa; Whale Branch Middle School — Nikayl Fields.