Aiken Scholars Academy graduate Isabella Peralta receives a full ride to Duke University

ERIN WEEKS, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Jun. 17—Isabella Peralta, an Aiken Scholars Academy 2023 graduate, got the news on March 17 that she had been chosen to receive a full ride to Duke University through the school's BN Scholarship program.

"I still honestly can't believe I'm here today," said Peralta, who wasn't originally planning on applying to the school. "I went to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and one of my roommates ended up being from North Carolina and she convinced me that I could at least try."

At Duke, Isabella plans to pursue a degree in medical engineering with a focus on space medicine.

Peralta's curiosity about "the unknown of space exploration," motivates her greatly. Peralta also credits her grandmother, who lives with her family and undergoes dialysis, for inspiring her to pursue medicine.

"Seeing that in my life has really been a big influence because I really just want to have that same type of impact that I've been able to see on both my grandma's life and my family's, based off of just what medicine can do," she said.

Peralta thanks her high school teacher and close friend, Sharonda Hannah Jacobs, for pushing her towards success.

"She just gave us the motivation to really put work into our own hands, and to really just try to make an impact," Peralta said.

Peralta said that she would tell students still in high school to choose a path for their future that will make them happy and to always keep their options open.

"Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations," she said, reciting her favorite quote by astronaut Mae Jemison. "There are endless possibilities."

Isabella is determined to make the most of her opportunity and is excited to get more involved in space medicine.

"I've been really just motivated to try to see what I can contribute to the research in that field," she said.