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.
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
Talbot County
Wyatt Blessing — St. Michael’s High School
Christopher Jackson — Easton High School
Madisyn Moore — Easton 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 18 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.
