The Mad Genius Scholarship celebrates originality, creativity, and the courage to think differently — supporting the next generation of creators.

Headline

THINK BIG! • MASH IDEAS • MAKE IT GENIUS

CREATIVITY DOESN’T FOLLOW RULES,

NEITHER DOESS GENIUS

ABOUT THE SCHOOLARSHIP

Creativity doesn’t follow rules — and neither does genius. The Mad Genius Scholarship was created to recognize bold ideas, unconventional thinking, and creative voices that stand out.

Each year, we award a select group of students who bring originality and imagination to their work. This program isn’t about grades or traditional achievements — it’s about expression, curiosity, and creative confidence.

OUR WINNERS

From video to visual art, these winning submissions showcase the creative range and originality we look for in a Mad Genius.

Dance / Art

Ava Ballard

Ava is currently a double major student in Dance and Psychology at New York University. She is from the small town of Owings, Maryland. Ava aspires to spend her nights on Broadway or in a Contemporary Company and her days researching treatment methods for patients with rare personality disorders.

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Sports / Art

Ava Doucet

Highschool: St. Joseph’s Academy
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Expected Major: Marketing
Career Aspirations: Be able to market not only myself through bowling, but be a part of a team managing social campaigns around the world.

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Recipe

Charlie Porterfield

My name is Charlie Porterfield. I’m a Finance major with a minor in Environmental Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Isenberg School of Management). I am originally from Martha’s Vineyard, MA, and passionate about combining sustainability, business, and creativity to design innovative solutions for the future of nutrition and finance.

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Art

Isam Mousa

Winning the Mad Genius Scholarship means so much to me. This was the most fun and enjoyable scholarship I’ve ever applied for, and it felt like being rewarded for something that didn’t even feel like work. Creating my mashup piece let me finally unleash a creative side of myself that I was always told growing up was “useless” or a waste of time. This is the first scholarship I’ve ever won, which makes it incredibly validating. The fact that the one I poured my heart into is the one that worked out for me means a lot.

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Music

Javon Carter

Hello, my name is Javon Carter! I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, but I currently live in Monroe, Georgia. I attend Monroe Area Highschool, while also being dual enrolled at Athens Technical College. I plan to major in music production/audio recording at Georgia State University.

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Music

Maggie Stuckey

Maggie Stuckey is a high school senior from New York City who loves to sing, act, play music, and get creative. She is currently a drama major at LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, where she has performed in the Musicals like West Side Story and Into The Woods. Her dream is to pursue a career in Musical Theatre, and she is excited to utilize this scholarship to further continue her arts education!

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Art

Fashion

Hello! I’m Reese Gilmore a graduate student at the University of Kansas in Lawrence Kansas. My hometown is Leawood, Kansas just outside of Kansas City. My major is Architecture I have my bachelors and am currently working towards my Masters in architecture. I want a career is design and architecture, but I hope I can continue to create and design in many different medias, bringing my love for textiles and fashion into my architectural career. I don’t want my creativity professional and personally to have any boundaries!

View Submission

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Mad Genius Scholarship will open again in 2026. If you’re a creator with ideas that don’t fit the mold, now’s the time to stay in the loop.

Sign up for the Mad Genius newsletter and we’ll notify you when applications open.

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