A YEAR 9 Beaulieu student has won two prestigious honours in a global writing competition for her essay exploring medical ethics in editing human DNA.
Carmen Mlonka’s winning essay stood out among a total of 1,100 entries from more than 53 countries in the Global Junior Scholar Essay Competition.
Her essay focused on the ethical implications of editing human DNA and addressed some of the complex moral responsibilities and challenges emerging within the field.
Following a gruelling selection process, she was shortlisted alongside other leading candidates and won the Future Explorer Award and the Lumiere Scholarship, founded by Oxford and Harvard.
Included in the prize is a world-leading programme of academic mentorship, including eight one-to-one sessions with a mentor from a leading research university and personalised sessions with a writing and reflection coach.
The programme is designed to help develop Carmen’s already-impressive foundations in research, writing and independent thinking.
With two years still to go until her GCSE exams, Beaulieu said that Carmen’s virtuoso display of critical thinking reflected her exceptional intellectual curiosity and willingness to engage in profound scientific and ethical questions.
Beaulieu headteacher Matthew Burke said: “Carmen’s achievement is a testament to her dedication, insight, and passion for learning.
“We are incredibly proud of her and look forward to seeing how her academic journey continues to unfold.”
