Lumiere Education Announces Winners of the 2026 Spring Junior Scholars Essay Contest

Cambridge, MA. June 3, 2026.

Lumiere Education, a global research and education program for students, today announced the winners of its 2026 Spring Junior Scholars Essay Contest, the program's essay competition for middle school students. The contest drew more than 500 submissions from students in 48 countries this spring.

The Junior Scholars Essay Contest invites middle school students worldwide to write original, research-driven essays across a range of academic prompts. Entries are judged on the depth of research, originality of argument, and clarity of writing by a panel drawn from leading universities.

After a rigorous review process, the top 6 medals are awarded to:

Gold

Tanveer Bhutyani, Indus International School, India

Silver

Diya Anand, UWCSEA East, Singapore

Olivia (Taeyoon) Kim, North London Collegiate School Jeju, South Korea

Bronze

Aarna Sharma, Thomas Grover Middle School, United States

Justin Zheng, Xiamen International School, China

Tajdeed Bari, Oxford Academy, United States

The six medal-winning essays have been published in the Oxford Journal of Student Scholarship, and can be read here. The winning topics ranged from space exploration and the ethics of world-changing inventions to humanitarian intervention, art as a catalyst for social change, and climate responsibility.

Winners received cash awards and scholarships toward the Junior Research Scholars Program, with the Gold recipient earning a $300 cash award and a $2,690 program scholarship.

This year's Gold winner, Tanveer Bhutyani, encouraged future participants to write authentically and to take a clear stance and defend it.

"We are always impressed by the curiosity and rigor these students bring to their work," said Dhruva Bhat, Co-Founder of Lumiere Education. "Most adults would struggle to write clearly on topics like humanitarian intervention or the ethics of dangerous inventions. These students did it at 13. That is the bar they set, and it is why this competition matters."

About Lumiere Education

Lumiere Education is a global education program that connects ambitious students with research mentorship and academic opportunities. Through its programs, students produce original research, sharpen their writing, and build the foundation for top universities and beyond.

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