Post by Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet

Honourable Mention in the Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition 2026 - Congratulations to Aaryan in Year 10 on receiving an Honourable Mention, placing his essay among the top 10% of over 15,000 submissions from students representing more than 50 countries worldwide. Aaryan's essay explored the highly relevant and thought-provoking question: "Should AI systems be granted legal personhood?" As artificial intelligence continues to reshape society, this topic sits at the heart of important ethical, legal, and technological debates. The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition aims to foster critical thinking and encourage students to engage with complex contemporary issues, challenging them to develop innovative perspectives and solutions. Following four rigorous rounds of blind review conducted by scholars from Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, MIT, and several Ivy League universities, Aaryan was selected as one of the competition's Honourable Mention recipients in the Senior Division—an outstanding achievement. In recognition of his success, Aaryan has received a digital certificate and has been invited to attend the Award Ceremony and Dinner at King's College, University of Cambridge, on 31 July 2026, where Nobel Laureate Dr Barry C. Barish is expected to be in attendance. This accomplishment adds to an already remarkable year for Aaryan, who also won the International World Math Hackathon 2026. Alongside his academic pursuits, he successfully balances competitions with his schoolwork, cricket, piano, and participation in the school strings orchestra. When asked how he finds time for so many activities, Aaryan shared: "You have to be organised and have a schedule to fit in the things that you are interested in." We are incredibly proud of Aaryan's dedication, curiosity, and achievements, and we look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next. Congratulations, Aaryan! #FreeThinkingScholarship #BeyondTheCurriculum #QEFlourish #CambridgeRethink #AI