Julian Wilkes, an eighth-grader at Sierra Madre Middle School, is one of just 26 students nationwide selected as a Caroline D. Bradley Scholar for the Class of 2031, earning a four-year, need-blind scholarship awarded by the Institute for Educational Advancement to support highly gifted students.
Scholarships Provide Flexibility for Diverse Student Profiles
- Educational Positioning: The scholarship provides recipients complete flexibility in selecting high school environments tailored to their distinct academic and personal profiles.
- Cohort Demographics: Advanced academic pipelines, such as the Pasadena Unified School District’s Math Academy, continue to navigate notable demographic imbalances within their cohorts.
- Talent Development: Early identification methodologies focus on harnessing student enthusiasm and talent through specialized pedagogical frameworks rather than relying strictly on traditional prodigy models.
Julian Balances Rigorous Applications with Artistic Pursuits
For Julian, earning the prestigious scholarship was exciting, but getting there was no small undertaking. “The application process was quite rigorous,” Julian said, noting that it required a considerable amount of time carved out of an already remarkably full schedule.
That schedule balances rigorous academics with extensive artistic and physical pursuits. Julian studies French with a tutor, takes acting classes and workshops, appeared in A Noise Withing’s Pasadena production of A Christmas Carol, and attended the theater company’s Shakespeare summer camp. On Saturdays, he travels to North Hollywood for classes at The Young Actors Studio to study acting technique, improvisation, on-camera work, and scene study. He also swims, plays handball, and works as a teaching assistant at Temple Sinai of Glendale.
Math Academy Identifies Student Enthusiasm and Aptitude
Temple Sinai Rabbi Rick Schechter nominated Julian for the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship, alongside his mentor, Dr. Dylan Rupel. Rupel knows Julian through the Pasadena Unified School District’s Math Academy, a distinctive program for middle and high school students founded on the premise of raising the bar high enough for students to reach it.
Sandy Durell Roberts, co-founder and director of Math Academy, emphasized that the program identifies enthusiasm and aptitude rather than restricting access to mathematical prodigies. “You don’t have to be a prodigy to be a part of Math Academy,” Roberts said. “What we do at Math Academy is harness the enthusiasm and the talent using the pedagogy and methodology of the academy. That is what really propels them.”
| Program / Institution | Key Focus | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for Educational Advancement | Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship | Awarding organization |
| Sierra Madre Middle School | General Education | Julian Wilkes’ home school |
| Pasadena Unified School District | Math Academy | Advanced mathematics training |
| Temple Sinai of Glendale | Community & Teaching | Synagogue and assistant role |
Julian Observes Demographic Imbalances in Advanced Mathematics
Beyond his coursework, Julian has observed demographic trends within advanced academic cohorts that raise broader questions about participation and belonging. The current middle school cohort in his math program consists of just three girls and seventeen boys, highlighting ongoing discussions about who feels encouraged to pursue advanced mathematics.
When reflecting on an essay prompt from the scholarship application that asked applicants to write about their impressions of Kermit the Frog’s song, “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” Julian found plenty to consider regarding what it means to be different, feel overlooked, or manage environments where one stands out. He hasn’t decided where he will go to high school yet, having toured several schools on the East Coast and considered options closer to home, including a boarding school in Ojai that emphasizes outdoor education and environmental awareness. With a deadline of January to complete his applications, Julian continues exploring environments that will allow him to pursue his wide-ranging interests.
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