Concord-Carlisle High School Sophomore Accepted to Competitive Harvard Medical School Program with Full Scholarship

CONCORD — When Concord-Carlisle High School sophomore Laila Smith starts April break this year, she’ll be heading to Harvard Medical School after being accepted into the MEDScience School Break Program with a full scholarship.

Laila, a Boston student participating in the METCO program at CCHS, was selected from a highly competitive applicant pool for the weeklong program, which offers students hands-on medical experiences and direct instruction from Harvard Medical School staff and health care professionals.

The MEDscience School Break Program offers high school students with interests in science, medicine or health care a hands-on, active learning environment where they are immersed in realistic, dynamic, simulated medical emergencies.

Students learn clinical skills and explore health care careers from various medical professionals in the field, and the program motivates students to think critically, problem-solve, and work effectively in teams.

Laila has long been interested in pursuing a career in medicine, with aspirations of becoming a doctor specializing in neonatology or obstetrics and gynecology.

At CCHS, Laila is actively involved in several leadership roles. She is serving her second year as a METCO Student Ambassador, is a member of the school’s Challenge Success team and participated as a speaker on a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging panel. She has also been selected to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Conference next summer.

Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle High School currently educate more than 120 students through their partnership with the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, Inc. The district’s involvement in METCO began in 1967, when 20 students first enrolled at Concord-Carlisle High School.

“Laila’s acceptance into this program speaks to the hard work she’s put in throughout her education and the leadership she brings to our school community,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter. “She takes full advantage of all available opportunities, and we are extremely proud to support her as she explores a possible future in medicine.”

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