<em>Photo above: Tallulah Henry and Suchir Shetty, eighth graders at Bridges Preparatory School in historic downtown Beaufort, celebrate being named South Carolina Junior Scholars.</em>

Tallulah Henry and Suchir Shetty, eighth grade students at Bridges Preparatory School in downtown Beaufort, earned the distinction of being named South Carolina Junior Scholars for their academic talents.

The state Department of Education developed the Junior Scholars program more than 20 years ago to identify eighth grade students with exceptional talent. The program’s purpose is to identify and then nurture those students to promote their scholastic achievement.

In addition to being named Junior Scholars, both Bridges Prep students were inducted this year into the National Junior Honor Society. Bridges Prep is a free, state-chartered school open to all students in the Lowcountry.

Beyond their academic strengths, Suchir plays the xylophone in the Bridges Pep band. Tallulah is also musically inclined, as she plays the piano and is learning to play the ukulele.

“These are two of our many outstanding students,” Interim Head of School Dr. Bob Bohnstengel said. “It’s quite an achievement to be named a South Carolina Junior Scholar, and I am confident both of them have very bright futures.”

Bridges Preparatory School was chartered by South Carolina in mid-2012 and opened at near capacity in August 2013. Since then, enrollment has grown by 42 percent. For the 2016-2017 school year, Bridges Prep will expand to ninth grade.