Recent Concept Successes You Need To Know About Before The End Of The Year

It's that time of year again!

Across Concept Schools' network, schools are winding down before they leave for summer break. After a busy year of hard work, it's time to celebrate some of our most recent successes before students and teachers alike go into hibernation. Here's what you need to know:

IMSA North Student Earns Almost $1 Million In Scholarship Money

College week might have concluded at Concept Schools but that doesn’t mean the celebration is over.

Indiana Math and Science Academy North’s Jensy Godinez-Santamaria was spotlighted on WRTV on May 2 after she earned nearly $1 million in scholarship money. She got into 15 different schools and has decided to attend Indiana University to major in either business or history.

Described by her principal as a “strong and dedicated student,” Godinez-Santamaria looks forward to taking what she learned at IMSA with her to Bloomington this fall.

"This experience has been overwhelming in the best way," Godinez-Santamaria told WRTV. "I'm grateful for every opportunity and excited for what’s next."

Whatever Jensy decides to do next, we know her potential is limitless.

HSA Columbus High Students Harvard, MIT Bound This Summer

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Three HSA Columbus High freshmen are headed east in STEMtacular fashion this summer after being chosen to participate in prestigious programs offered by MIT and Harvard.

Freshman Obed Kumih beat out thousands of applicants for a scholarship to be a part of the Harvard C-Change Youth Summit. For a week, Kumih will get to collaborate with Harvard experts working at the forefront of climate issues and public health. The program also includes excursions around Boston, including a visit to Harvard’s campus museums and the Boston Museum of Science.

Kumih won’t be the only HSA Columbus High freshman headed to Beantown as Esther Igbekoyi and Abena Boynes both will spend 10 days in the Engineering and Robotics program at MIT. The two received a full scholarship from the Putney Open Door Fund where they will get a chance to examine the many intersections of technology and exploration, artificial intelligence, and robotics. They will hear from MIT storytellers and scientists, some of whom are using technology to rebuild coastlines.

HSACH Assistant Principal of Academics/STEM Oktay Ince believes it’s important for young students to take advantage of opportunities like these early on in their time in high school.

“I tell [freshmen], ‘if you have such and such extracurricular activities in this matter and have your story [set], you will have everything you need when you go to apply to college,’” Ince said. “If you are passionate [at an early age], you can show them your passion by saying ‘I got this scholarship by doing this and that.’ By doing this early, your story comes together by the time you’re a junior applying to college.”

Kumih, Igbekoyi and Boynes are certainly going down the path Ince (more on him later) is talking about and are well on their way to building a strong future for themselves.

Gateway Science Academy Thrives At Science Fair

GSA students pose at STEMCOn

Earlier this month, Gateway Science Academy showed why it sets the standard for scientific excellence in the area.

Competing against over 1,700 students, GSA’s students lit up the 2025 Academy of Science - St. Louis K-12 Regional Science Fair with their creativity and ingenuity. Hosted annually for more than 70 years, the fair brings together top student projects from across St. Louis and offers young scientists a platform to present their experiments, models, research papers and inventions.

GSA stood out among the pack and took home 21 first-place blue ribbons, nine second-place red ribbons and six third-place green ribbons. Along with one student being nominated for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on the national level, the school earned:

Bayer Top Young Scientists Award
The Science of Education Research Award
American Institute of Chemical Engineers - St. Louis Section Award
East Central District/Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc. Award
Bayer Outstanding Young Scientists Award

It was an eventful multi-week stretch for the school, who also showed out during this year’s STEMCON.

"We’re so proud and excited about our students’ amazing success at the 2025 Academy of Science – St. Louis Regional Science Fair,” Southwest Region STEM Coordinator Huseyin Yagci said. “From the school level, to GSASEF and CONSEF, and finally to the STL Science Fair, our students’ dedication and hard work were evident at every stage of the journey. Their passion for science truly shined and their impressive achievements reflect their creativity and commitment.

“A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such a remarkable success.”

Congratulations to GSA for once again making its community proud!

HSA Columbus High AP Honored With Global Educator Of The Year Award

Ince posing with his Global Educator of the Year award

Oktay Ince is known at his school for championing his students and their successes. This time around, Ince was the one who was being celebrated by his constituents.

Earlier this month, the Assistant Principal of Academics/STEM at HSA Columbus High was named the Global Educator of the Year by the Columbus Council on World Affairs. He was nominated by the school’s principal, Ugur Zengince, after helping enhance the STEM programming HSA offers its students.

The award is meant to honor the top advisor of the CCWA’s Global Scholars Diploma Program which helps high schoolers build the awareness and skills needed to take action on a global issue and become responsible citizens of the world.

“It means a lot,” Ince said. “This is a passion of mine. Personally and professionally as a school admin, I want to be able to connect with my students. I think at other schools with their admins, they want to just do their compliance work. I don’t do that. I want to understand my students. To be recognized for that is great.”

This isn’t the first time Ince has been recognized for the hard work he puts in every day for his students. Earlier this year, he was named a Courtney R. Wilson Fellow and was accepted into the 2024 Educator Academy in the Amazon. Ince was also selected to be a part of the Advocate Program for the Society for Science for his work helping underserved students.

Positioning his students for success is at the heart of what Ince does as a school administrator. That’s why the Global Scholars Diploma Program speaks to him as not only an educator but a person as well.

“When I reviewed the curriculum, I didn’t just see textbook-based learning–– I saw a movement. I saw action,” Ince said in his Global Educator of the Year acceptance speech. “I saw an opportunity for students to break out of their comfort zones, tackle real-world global issues, think critically, and—most importantly—learn about the world, its people, and its cultures.”

Congratulations to Mr. Ince on this achievement! Your school is in a better place because of you.

In Case You Missed It

There’s plenty of things happening in our network right now. Here’s what you might have missed:

Published May 19, 2025 Print