Spotted on the Boulevard: Two Caroline D. Bradley Scholars!

Eighth graders Coco B. and Clara L. have each been awarded the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship…and we couldn’t be prouder! Awarded on the basis of academic merit alone, with no consideration of financial need, the award is one of the most distinguished honors of its kind. Both Coco and Clara will receive a four-year scholarship that covers their full high school tuition!

This national award program was founded by the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA), a nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of the nation’s gifted and advanced learners. This year, there are 26 Caroline D. Bradley Scholars (selected from applicants from across the nation) and the scholars benefit from ongoing, personalized counseling and educational advocacy provided by the IEA.

Does this news seem like a little déjà vu? Well, it should — Clara and Coco are Speyer’s seventh and eighth Caroline D. Bradley Scholars…and for the second year in a row, we have had TWO eighth graders selected. According to the folks from the IEA, having two scholars from the same school is a rare occurrence…let alone having a school repeat this! All of this is just a testament to the talent and passion of our Dragons!

Coco and Clara join previous Speyer recipients Thisbe Wu ’18, Stella Nakada ’19, Francesca Burnett ’21, Una Joy Hornick ’24, Landon Ifill ’26, and Baxter Oates ’26!

The start of their Eighth Grade year is very busy yet Clara and Coco took time to chat with us about this amazing achievement!

The application process is quite intense. It starts in Seventh Grade and includes writing essays, taking standardized tests, providing work samples, participating in multiple rounds of interviews, and more. Tell us how it was for you and how your Speyer experiences helped with it?

Clara: It was fun and challenging! Fun because I both learned new things and new skills. Challenging because I had never done anything like it before. I also feel applying to the scholarship gave me experience that has helped me with the high school application process. 

Coco: I agree! This whole experience definitely prepared me for the high school application process. It forced me to think deeper about myself. These essays and interviews require you to be vulnerable. Going through it bolstered my courage and confidence for when we do interviews this fall. 

How did your teachers help you through all of this?

Clara: Mr. Thorn was a huge help — he helped me write stronger essays and how to look at my time at Speyer and express myself more, which then I was able to use in the essays and interviews. 

Coco All of our Speyer teachers were a great support! Ms Belski was so excited and congratulated me and so did Mr. Deards. I totally felt cheered on by faculty and staff.

What are you going to miss most about Speyer?

Clara & Coco: The teachers!

Clara: The amount of support I have gotten from my teachers has truly helped me feel a part of the Speyer community.

Coco: Their confidence in me has helped me so much and they were just as happy for my success as I was! 

How do you think Speyer helped you become who you are?

Coco: One of the main ways Speyer has helped me is learning Debate. I really like Debate, and it has helped me learn to use fewer filler words. Debate is fun and allowed me to become more confident and build that part of me.

Clara: Speyer has pushed me to fullest potential academically and encouraged and supported all of my interests and passions like Math, Music, and Fine Art. 

What are you most excited about exploring in high school?

Clara: I’m excited to meet new people! It will be great to learn new perspectives and have more art resources and experiences!

Coco: I agree – meeting new people and exploring new things will be cool. I’m especially excited for more Humanities courses because Speyer has sparked my passion for that.

What is something you wish Speyer had?

Coco: I wish we had more free periods so I can go to more clubs and play more volleyball. I’d also like a Brain Club to study because like psychology and neuroscience because brains are interesting.

Clara: A pottery furnace that would be sick we could do pottery in Art class!

Congratulations to Clara and Coco! All of us at Speyer are so proud of you and we can’t wait to see where your next adventures will take you!