The distance from Gateway Science Academy Smiley Elementary School to the campus of Harvard University is approximately 1,195 miles – a vastness that is seemingly unfathomable to successfully reach. A former student of GSA, however, not only discovered his way to blaze said trail, but also desires to close the distance between dreams and possibilities by remembering from where he came and inspiring others to pursue their distant goals.
Murllin Bender, 2025 graduate of Gateway Science Academy High School and presently an engineering student at Harvard University, returned to the very halls that helped shape his path towards scholastic success. During the “Step Up Ceremony” in late May, Mr. Bender served as the keynote speaker for the students of GSA Smiley who will one day become the class of 2033. He recounts his experience of the event as profound, for he spoke to students who currently walk the same hallways, sit in the same classrooms, play in the same field as he did in his youth, which made the presentation all more meaningful.
This consistent investment in the next generation is what differentiates Concept Schools and Gateway Science Academy from so many other academic institutions. Concept educators envision a community where they, as teachers of all grade levels, are conduits of a greater calling. The success of the students is paramount, though measurable impact occurs as they move on to later stages of their academic and professional careers.
For Mr. Bender, this nostalgic experience served as a profound reminder of the powerful, lasting impression that educators can have on the future of a student. A strong educational foundation, however, goes beyond the classroom and into the communities in which our students live, where lasting trust, bonds, and connections are formed, and which lead students to a lifelong commitment to their love of learning.
| “I am grateful for the opportunity to return,” Bender wrote in a recent LinkedIn post. “[To] share my story and hopefully encourage these students to pursue their goals with confidence and determination." |  |
These are the moments in which we raise our heads high, proud of what we have accomplished. The achievement of acceptance to one of the most prestigious universities in the world is an accolade in and of itself. Yet to witness a former student return and tell his story to others is a reward that redefines triumph for every member of the staff and faculty of GSA, and for the many active members of the community.
We could not be prouder of this full-circle accomplishment! Congratulations once again, Murllin!
