• Junior Achievement to Honor 2026 “18 Under 18” Finalists at Awards Ceremony

SALISBURY, Md.  — Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore will recognize 18 extraordinary young leaders from across Maryland’s Eastern Shore during its 2026 “18 Under 18” Awards Ceremony on May 18.

This event is open to the public and will take place May 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury, where students will be honored for their leadership, service, and positive impact within their schools and communities. Community members are invited to attend, and tickets will be available for purchase.

Junior Achievement’s “18 Under 18” program celebrates remarkable students who are stepping up, leading by example, and helping shape a brighter future for the Eastern Shore. “With so many stresses facing today’s youth, Junior Achievement wanted to create an opportunity for our community to come together and recognize students who are making a difference every day” said Samantha Eastlack, Development Manager. “These students represent the future leaders, innovators, and change-makers of our region.”

The 2026 honorees represent schools across Wicomico, Worcester, Talbot, Dorchester and Queen Anne’s counties.

Talbot County?
 Wyatt Blessing — St. Michael’s High School?
 Christopher Jackson — Easton High School?
 Madisyn Moore — Easton High School

Wicomico County?
 Madeline Tomlinson — Parkside High School?
 Imran Miah — James M. Bennett High School?
 Apeksha Agarwal — Parkside High School?
 Burak Kilicarslan — Delmar Senior High School?
 Lily Gilchrist — The Salisbury School?
 Guinevere Cockey — Homeschool

Worcester County?
 Saish Gupta — Berlin Intermediate School?
 Gannon Eastlack — Stephen Decatur High School?
 Kirby Bounds — Stephen Decatur High School?
 Lyla Roberts — Worcester Preparatory School?
 Seidon Shaffer — Most Blessed Sacrament School
Carly Watts — Stephen Decatur High School

Dorchester County?
 Savannah Weber — Cambridge-South Dorchester High School

Queen Anne’s County?
 Averie Mortimer — Queen Anne’s County High School?
 Jack Callahan — Key School (Stevensville)

The May 18th ceremony will celebrate the students’ achievements and share the unique stories behind their leadership and service throughout the region.

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through volunteer-led programs focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness, Junior Achievement equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to build successful futures. To learn more, please visit www.easternshoreja.org.