Annapolis Home-Schooler Wins Full-Ride High School Scholarship

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A home-schooled teenager from Annapolis has won a full-ride scholarship to the high school of her choice. Storrie Kulynych-Irvin, 13, is one of just 28 gifted students across the country to earn a four-year Caroline D. Bradley scholarship, the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) announced Friday.

"It's obviously a huge honor, and I really didn't expect to win," Storrie said Friday in a phone interview. She thanked the teachers who worked with her and encouraged her to apply for the scholarship.

"It's a really rare opportunity," she said. "One of a kind, in a way."

The IEA will work with Storrie and her family in choosing an advanced high school, said Bonnie Raskin, the institute's program manager for the Caroline D. Bradley scholarship. "It's in the very early stages," she said.

Storrie is starting the eighth grade this fall, and she's excited about high school. "We're just beginning the process," she said.

High Achievers

The goal of the scholarship program is to match each gifted student with a "high school program to help them meet their unique intellectual and personal needs," the IEA said in a statement.

The Caroline D. Bradley scholarship covers four years of tuition at any institution, but its monetary value depends on which high school the young scholar attends, Raskin said.

As a home-schooler, Storrie takes middle school courses and also attends the Stanford Online High School. She's definitely ready for high school, as she scored in the 99th percentile in the SATs, according to Raskin.

Her home-school background has helped Storrie stand out among her peers. In February, for the second straight year, she won the Anne Arundel County Spelling Bee and advanced to the national competition.

The Caroline D. Bradley scholarship covers four years of tuition, but its monetary value depends on which high school the young scholar attends, Raskin said.

Storrie also is a competitive swimmer with a youth club at the Naval Academy, and she's been playing the violin since kindergarten. She said she would like to go to a school that combines academics and athletics, as she's interested in cross-country running.

Many Applicants

The competition for the scholarship is rigorous. Students apply in the seventh grade and are required to submit essays, middle school transcripts, two recommendations and a work sample. Eligible applicants must also score above the 97th percentile on standardized tests

This year, three regional selection committees chose 55 finalists from 386 applicants, the largest pool of applicants in the program’s history, the IEA said.

The Institute for Educational Advancement, based in Pasadena, CA, "is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth" of young gifted students across the United States. The institute offers a variety of resources, programs and services for gifted students. For more information, click here.

Image: Storrie Kulynych-Irvin (courtesy of the Kulynych-Irvin family)