This quarter, four talented Opportunity Funds (OF) students were accepted into the prestigious Pioneer Academics, the only online U.S. college credit-bearing research program for intellectually driven high school students worldwide. Funded through a U.S. Department of State grant administered by EducationUSA, this accolade can be a game-changer when it’s time to vie for admissions and full-ride scholarships to highly competitive universities.
Superstars in the making
EducationUSA Pakistan’s OF students are made of different mettle, and these four – Saim Usmani and Shayaan Ali Siddiqui from Karachi Grammar School, Musa Qadir from Lahore Grammar School in Johar Town, and Shehroz Husham from Beaconhouse Defence Campus Lahore – are no exception: they are handpicked, highly qualified, and ready to take the world by storm. Through Pioneer Academics, they have connected with professors from leading U.S. universities to conduct rigorous, independent research projects. The program includes collaborative group sessions and one-on-one mentorship, culminating in the production of an original research paper.
“I am conducting research in the Fibonacci Numbers and Visual Proofs concentration under Professor Greg Dresden from Washington and Lee University. Our cohort includes students from Turkey and China, and our group sessions focus on combinatorial proofs and the fascinating world of Fibonacci numbers. The experience has been enriching, and I’m excited to develop my research paper in the coming months,” says Saim.
Shehroz, too, has found the experience to be intellectually stimulating thus far.
“I am delving into political sociology under Professor Francesco Duina from Bates College. We have covered foundational concepts and will soon develop our research questions,” he says. “Someday, I look forward to contributing to this field.”
For Shayaan, who is exploring why certain economies perform the way they do under the mentorship of Professor Patrick Van Horn from Scripps College, the best part has been the interactive feedback.
“Our sessions encourage accountability and intellectual curiosity. Pioneer Academics is somewhat of a catalyst in my academic and social growth, and I look forward to expanding my understanding of economic theories,” he says.
Musa shares Shayaan’s excitement about seeing how their research unfolds.
“My concentration is film studies, and I’m focusing on espionage in film under the guidance of Professor Nikolina Dobreva from Middlebury College. The sessions have been engaging, and I appreciate the structured support from the Pioneer Academics team. Very excited to see how my paper turns out,” he says.
Making dreams come true
The OF program assists highly qualified students who are likely to secure full funding at U.S. universities. Through this program, students receive comprehensive guidance, test preparation tools, financial resources, and academic opportunities that enhance their applications.
