This Merit-Based Scholarship offers exceptional opportunity for exceptional students.
2025 Head of School Scholars
Maclay School announces the recipients of the 2025 Head of School Scholarship, awarding full tuition and expenses to two rising 9th graders. The award recipients for 2025 are Simon Joos and Nina Ozerova.
In the Fall of 2021, Maclay School announced the establishment of the Head of School Scholarship after receiving a $5 million gift to endow the program, making it one of the most extraordinary programs in the country for high school students. The Scholarship includes full tuition coverage and expenses exceeding $100,000 over a four-year high school career. Two scholarships are awarded each year making eight total recipients in the Maclay Upper School in the fall 2025.
“Maclay has a long history of scholar-leaders making an impact on our culture and the broader community,” said James Milford, Maclay’s Head of School. “We are extremely proud to have Simon and Nina join our 2024 recipients Ava Abbott and Kai Okui, 2023 recipients, Keya Patel and Avery Campbell, and our 2022 scholars Nishi Bhanderi and Santi Nunez, as our Head of School Scholars.
Simon Joos is an 8th grader at Fairview Middle School. He is most excited to take advantage of the many academic and co-curriculars that Maclay has to offer in the Upper School, and to bring his multicultural experiences as well as his musical talents to campus. Simon plays rhythm guitar, the French Horn, and has played classical guitar for ten years. In the past year, Simon won three competitions for Classical Guitar; he also speaks four languages, plays baseball and soccer, and spends a lot of time volunteering in the community with groups like Teen Court. He aspires to be an international lawyer. Simon looks forward to coming to Maclay because the school “supports students’ career goals by offering student-adapted classes and helps students reach their dreams.”
The second scholarship winner is Nina Ozerova, who is currently an 8th grader at Cornerstone Learning Community, where she has demonstrated exceptional academic achievements. Nina is an avid swimmer and competes with the United Swim Club. She is a member of the Valkyries Robotics Team, has played violin for five years and has been a member of the Youth Orchestra for the last two years. Nina has participated with “Sing with Symphony’, is active in drama, has written a novel in verse and prose, and speaks three languages fluently—English, Ukrainian, and Russian—all while learning Spanish . She also enjoys psychology, reading, science, and math competitions.
"I’m very excited to take a lot of classes that cover my interests,” Nina said. “All the people from Maclay that I’ve talked to have said that the (teachers) taught them a different way to process information, and I would like to learn this also.” She looks forward to joining the math competition team, drama department, band, orchestra, and Robotics.
The Head of School Scholarship Program is one of the most extraordinary programs in the country for high school students. Offering full tuition coverage and more, this scholarship's total value exceeds $80,000. Up to two scholarships can be awarded each year with a total of eight at any given time in the Maclay Upper School.
Who is Eligible?
Rising 9th-grade students (open to both currently Maclay 8th graders and 8th graders not currently enrolled.)
What makes a Head of School Scholar?
At Maclay School, we believe in nurturing unstoppable learners who are inspired to make an impact and determined to fulfill their potential and control their futures. This enduring belief is what sets Maclay School - and its students - apart. The Head of School Scholarship Program is one of the many ways our benefactors contribute to make a Maclay experience possible for those in our community. A Head of School Scholar is one of our top students who recognizes the opportunity and seizes it to become inspired, determined, and unstoppable.
Specific qualities sought in the Head of School Scholarship recipients include:
- Superior Academic Performance
- Previously demonstrated excellence in citizenship and character
- A history of involvement in activities within their school and community
- Demonstration of significant promise to contribute to the overall life at Maclay School, both inside and outside the classroom
What does the Head of School Scholarship Cover?
- Full tuition
- Activity Fees
- Books and Laptop
- Trip Fees
- Allowance for Summer Enrichment Experience in U.S. or abroad
What are the expectations of a Head of School Scholar?
All Head of School Scholar awards carry with them a responsibility to positively engage and support the culture and ongoing mission of the school. A Head of School Scholar should be an example inside and outside the classroom and is held to the highest standards and expectations. Scholarships are renewed annually based on meeting and exceeding the following criteria:
- Exceptional support and leadership in the culture and the mission of Maclay School
- Maintain > 4.2 GPA (weighted)
- Active participation in Maclay extra-curricular activities
- Participation in Scholar related events as a representative of the school
- Seek to participate and lead in multiple clubs and activities on campus
- Live above reproach related to the Maclay Honor Code
What is the Application Process for the Head of School Scholarship?
- Non-enrolled current 8th graders must successfully complete the Maclay School Admission process and then in addition, complete the Head of School Scholar application. Current enrolled Maclay 8th graders must complete the Head of School Scholar application.
- Applications and forms are reviewed in January and finalists are notified and requested to complete a short essay or video.
- Finalists are invited to an on-campus visit during Scholars Week the end of January to complete Academic Scholars Test and attend a faculty panel interview.
- Scholarship recipients are notified by January 31st.
Meet our 2023-24 Scholars
Meet Keya
Maclay School admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded and made available to students at the school. Maclay does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school administered programs.