Wheaton High School Student and Educator Selected for Bezos Scholars Program

Wheaton High School rising senior Keraud Bika and media specialist Laura Ellis were selected as part of the 2026 Bezos Scholars Program Cohort. 

Bezos Scholars are a cohort of 12 rising high school seniors from across the U.S., each paired with an educator from their school and five students and an educator from the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa. Scholars are chosen based on commitment to their education, demonstrated leadership abilities, willingness to embrace challenges and the desire to create positive change in their communities. 

The program is aimed to inspire and challenge young people and educators from their schools to address issues they are passionate about in their communities. It begins with community building before attending the Aspen Ideas Festival, where students engage in leadership training, conversations with global leaders and build connections with their fellow Scholars. This experience sets the stage for the challenge ahead: launching sustainable Community Change Projects to transform their communities.