Redmond resident and Open Window School student Sarah Smale was named one of 29 students to receive the Caroline D. Bradley scholarship.

The scholarship is through the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA), a nonprofit organization that creates programs and advocates for gifted children. Scholarship winners will receive full-tuition scholarships to the high school program that offers them an optimal match. They will also join a group of fellow scholars for lifelong learning and support.

Each recipient works with IEA to create a custom-built educational plan. Many recipients use their awards to attend independent high schools, while others choose public school gifted programs, homeschool, early college programs or a combination.

The scholarships can be a lifeline for students who might otherwise struggle to find challenging, engaging, rigorous curricula. Up to 20 percent of high school dropouts are gifted, according to the Davidson Institute for Talent Development.

IEA’s Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship program is the only United States high school scholarship program that is need-blind and awarded solely on the basis of merit to highly gifted students. Since its inception in 2002, the scholarship has served 203 students with academic and social support, high school tuition and a lifelong network for mentorship and peer connections.