2025 Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Award

Liam Theodorakos joined the GT/LD program in 2018 and has flourished both academically and personally over the years. Entering with a solid GPA of 3.5, he has steadily elevated his academic performance, now boasting an impressive 3.9 GPA—clear evidence of his growth and dedication.

Throughout his time in the program, Liam has made the most of the support and structure provided by the GT/LD community. From learning how to manage his workload during daily resource periods to developing effective study strategies, Liam has embraced each opportunity to strengthen his skills. More importantly, he credits his success to the caring teachers, counselors, and staff who helped him thrive as both a student and an individual.

Liam’s journey has been marked by self-advocacy, thoughtful reflection, and a deep commitment to learning. Accommodations such as extended testing time and assistive technology—like typing instead of handwriting—allowed him to fully demonstrate his academic potential. His consistent engagement with his IEP team enabled him to target areas of growth and turn feedback into measurable progress.

Passionate about biomedical engineering, Liam has been accepted into several prestigious programs including those at the University of Pittsburgh Honors College and the Colorado School of Mines. Inspired to become a prosthetist, he dreams of designing advanced, comfortable prosthetic limbs to improve the lives of others. In the words of his AP Biology teacher, Liam is a “superstar”—intelligent, curious, and driven by a desire to make meaningful contributions to the world.

Liam’s journey through the GT/LD program has equipped him with more than academic skills—it has given him confidence, direction, and purpose. As he moves on to this next chapter, we are excited to see the impact he will make.