Seabury Hall eighth grader wins national scholarship

Seabury Hall extended congratulations to eighth grader Nikki Kayes, one of 27 students in the country named a Caroline D. Bradley Scholar. The winners receive full tuition to a private high school and access to a lifelong mentoring network.

Kayes underwent a rigorous application, standardized testing and interview process before winning the scholarship last year.

Kayes has attended Seabury Hall since the sixth grade. Her favorite subjects are math, musical theater and after-school dance. One of her big passions is art and she has chosen to focus on charcoal art for her eighth grade project.

In the musical theater program, Kayes played the lead role of Sponge Bob in last year’s Sponge Bob Square Pants musical. This year, she played Miss Hannigan in Seabury Hall’s sold-out run of Annie Jr.

For now, she is looking at different options for high schools and will make a final decision in the coming months.

The Bradley Scholars were selected from a nationwide pool of accomplished young people entering high school in the fall of 2024.

The four-year, merit-based high school scholarship, awarded through the Institute for Educational Advancement, can be used nationally toward any high school or approved alternative educational program that best fits the scholar’s individual intellectual, academic, and personal needs and goals.

The scholars receive personalized educational counseling to support them through the high school selection and application process, their high school careers, and the college application process. They connect with other scholars through a mentoring network that extends through high school and beyond.

“We are extremely proud of Nikki and the work she put into winning the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship,” said Maureen Madden, Head of School at Seabury Hall. “We work hard to empower students to pursue their dreams, and Nikki is a wonderful example of a student who can achieve them all in and out of the classroom.”

“I want to thank my teachers and my parents for helping me figure out who I am. Plus a special thanks to Mrs. Merritt and Mr. Proctor for writing my recommendation letters for this scholarship,” said Kayes upon learning she won the scholarship.

Students apply for the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship in the seventh grade. They must complete a rigorous portfolio application process, including essays, middle school transcripts, letters of recommendation and a work sample. Eligible applicants must also score at the highest level on nationally normed standardized tests.

The three scholarship selection committees are comprised of a diverse group of nationwide high school and university admissions directors, teachers and administrators, alumni scholars, community members, and business leaders. The selection process takes place over several months, during which time the committee reviews applications and interviews candidates.

The program, which began in 2002 and is funded by The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, is one of the few merit-based, need-blind scholarships of its kind in the United States.

The IEA has awarded more than 350 scholarships to date. Its 225 alumni have graduated from college, 125 of whom are in the workforce, attending graduate school, or participating in international service and fellowship programs.

*This story was updated to reflect corrections submitted by Seabury Hall.