Whiz Kid of the Week: Hope Gilbert

Whiz Kid of the Week:  Hope Gilbert

Grade:  4

School:  Broadneck Elementary School

Parents:  PJ and John Gilbert of Arnold

Recent Accomplishment:  Hope is this year’s Carson Scholar from Broadneck Elementary School.

The minute you meet this confident and friendly young lady you know she is special. But when you hear her describe her life experiences, even at the tender age of 10, you are truly blown away. 

Hope recently won a Carson Scholarship award. The program was started by Johns Hopkins pediatric surgeon Benjamin Carson and awards students who have embraced high levels of academic excellence and community service with $1,000 college scholarships. 

For this year’s essay part of the application, Hope was asked who has inspired her. It wasn’t the typical family member, teacher, celebrity, or athlete for Hope. Nor was it a person in history. Her choice?  Bill, a homeless man she and her family encountered often when traveling to Hope’s piano lessons.

“He does inspire me,” said Hope as she shared her story of giving Bill money each week for his favorite, a chili dog from the nearby Dairy Queen. “He has been through so much, but still has a positive attitude.”

Hope raised money to pay for a needed eye appointment and glasses for Bill. Hope’s family helped Bill find a home at the Lighthouse Shelter in Annapolis. He recently moved on to a halfway house, getting his life back together with the support of people like Hope and her family.

When not taking piano lessons, Hope also is involved with volunteering at her church, Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian in Cape St. Claire, takes gymnastics, and swims in the summers with the Bay Hills Swim Club. She is also a straight A student at BES.

So, what does Hope think about the award? “It was great,” she said of the awards ceremony, where she got to meet Sam Donaldson, the famous ABC political newsman. (Hope aspires to be a television anchor when she grows up.)

“Hope epitomizes what a Carson Scholar represents,” said Kim Baicar, guidance counselor at the school. “She is a good student who is community minded. We are blessed to have her at our school.”