Downey eighth grader Sofia Castro awarded prestigious Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship

DOWNEY – Sofia Castro, an eighth grader from Downey, has been named a recipient of the highly competitive Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship, a prestigious merit-based award that provides full tuition funding for high school.

Administered by the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA), the scholarship is awarded to a select group of gifted students nationwide. Castro is among just 26 students in the class of 2029 to receive the award, which allows recipients to attend the high school that best fits their academic and personal goals.

Beyond financial support, the scholarship provides students with personalized counseling and educational advocacy, as well as access to a lifelong network of past and present scholars.

“Beyond the monetary support the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship provides, it also means these bright young minds will become part of the IEA community as they continue on their educational journey,” said Deborah Monroe, president of IEA.

Students apply for the scholarship as seventh graders and must undergo a rigorous selection process that includes essays, middle school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a work sample. Applicants must also achieve top scores on nationally normed standardized tests. A committee of educators, admissions directors, alumni, and community leaders reviews the applications and selects the recipients.

“The potential this year’s class of Caroline D. Bradley Scholars holds is limitless,” said Mallory Aldrich, the program’s senior manager. “They are innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders who have already made great impacts in their communities.”

Over the next several months, IEA staff, current scholars, and alumni will assist Castro and her fellow scholarship recipients in identifying potential high school programs and preparing their applications.

The Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship, funded by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, is one of the few need-blind, merit-based scholarships of its kind in the country. More than 300 scholars have received the award since its inception.

The application process for the next class of Caroline D. Bradley Scholars will open this fall.