A split graphic shows a student and an award certificate. On the left, a smiling student stands in front of a closed garage door. She is wearing a gray sweatshirt with the word “Harvard” written in large red letters across the front, along with black pants. Her hair is pulled back, and she is holding up a peace sign with one hand. On the right, a formal certificate titled “Certificate of Nomination for Award” is displayed. The text reads: “Let it be known that Kennedy Scarbrough was nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence for outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine. This judgment being rendered with reference to the nomination of Mario Capecchi, Ph.D., executed in Boston, Massachusetts.” The certificate includes a seal and a signature, along with the printed name Mario Capecchi, Ph.D., Science Director, 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and the date March 13, 2026.

Little Rock School District Student Selected for Prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders at Harvard University

LRSD

March 31, 2026

A proud moment for the community and the Little Rock School District: Kennedy Scarbrough, an 8th-grade student at Forest Heights STEM Academy with aspirations of entering the medical field, has been selected to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, a nationally recognized honors program hosted at Harvard University.

Kennedy received this distinguished invitation based on her outstanding academic performance, leadership potential, and strong interest in medicine. The Congress of Future Medical Leaders is a highly selective program that brings together high-achieving students from across the country to engage with Nobel Prize laureates, renowned surgeons, medical researchers, and innovators shaping the future of healthcare.

“We are incredibly honored by this opportunity,” said Dr. DuShun Scarbrough, Kennedy's father. “Kennedy has worked hard to earn this recognition, and attending the Congress would be a life-changing experience that helps shape her future.”

“Your encouragement and generosity help reinforce the importance of excellence, discipline, and leadership in our young people,” the family shared. “We are deeply thankful for every contribution and every show of support.”

Kennedy’s nomination to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders is not just an achievement; it is the beginning of a promising future in healthcare. With community support, she can seize this extraordinary opportunity and continue her path toward becoming a future medical leader.