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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>Beaufort Academy 8th-grade students Grace Simmons and Gordon Ivey have earned the designation of 2020-2021 South Carolina Junior Scholar by the South Carolina Department of Education.</p>
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<p>Simmons and Ivey earned the honor as a result of their scores on the PSAT/NMSQT administered in October of this school year.</p>
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<p>Eligible students include those who score 550 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of the PSAT/NMSQT or those who scored 530 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the PSAT/NMSQT. Also, Duke TIP participants, who met the eligibility requirements outlined by the program, who were invited to attend either the State or Grand Recognition Ceremonies during their seventh grade year (2019-2020) automatically qualify to become 2020-2021 South Carolina Junior Scholars.</p>
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<p>South Carolina Junior Scholars will receive a certificate signed by the State Superintendent of Education, a sticker, and they will be recognized in a formal announcement and at promotion ceremonies at Beaufort Academy.</p>
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<p>The Junior Scholars Program was developed by the South Carolina Department of Education to identify 8th-grade students with exceptional academic talent and to develop strategies for inclusion into special programs. The program includes a process for screening, identifying, and recognizing students with high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability.</p>
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<p>In addition, those students are eligible to be contacted by various colleges and universities concerning summer enrichment programs, and they can also use this special recognition to bolster their applications to colleges and universities.</p>
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