Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Recipients!

Get to Know Lauren: Lauren graduated from Herndon High School and will be attending Rhodes College in Memphis, TN this fall. Lauren has been an active volunteer and student-athlete, serving as the President of the Teen Advisory Board for the Reston Regional Library, playing on her high school’s varsity tennis team, serving as the Operations Officer of the Herndon High NJ-ROTC Unit, as well as being a member of the English National Honors Society.  Lauren has been a Girl Scout for thirteen years and earned a Girl Scout Gold Award through her project called Letters For Elders, which creates pen pal relationships between local teens and isolated senior citizens in her community. In college, Lauren plans to major in International Relations with a minor in Spanish. Her future goal is to combine her passion for community service with her interest in global affairs.

Get to Know James: James is beginning his college career at the University of Maryland College Park in the University Honors Program majoring in Mathematics. He is a passionate advocate for metrication and recently had the opportunity to attend the annual board meeting of the U.S. Metric Association and tour the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He developed an app to assist in everyday metric uses as an independent senior project. Also active with Save Standard Time, James was invited to join the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on Hill Day to lobby in support of healthy sleep schedules and express safety concerns related to Daylight Saving Time. James’ volunteer work surrounds food security and, among other efforts, he began an annual neighborhood drive to supply the local food bank. He also enjoys volunteering as a math tutor.

Get to Know Ella: Ella is an incoming freshman at the University of Chicago where she will be studying Biology and Public Health. After interning in public health and researching health disparities in her home city of Cleveland, she is excited to learn more about the field in college and to eventually work in public health. Ella ran cross country throughout high school and was senior team captain. She also volunteered with the Cleveland park system and spread her passion for science by leading her school’s HOSA Chapter/Science Club.

Get to Know Taylor: Taylor graduated from Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring Maryland and will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University this fall studying Criminal Justice and Psychology. During high school, she was active in her school and greater community. She interned with the Montgomery County Police Department, was a member of the Sherwood High School Pom Squad, worked as a hostess at a nearby restaurant, and volunteered in the community.

Get to Know Isabella: Isabella will be attending Gardner-Webb University where she will major in psychology on the pre-law track and be playing Division I soccer. Isabella was honored by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the NFL highlighting ten student-athlete leaders from across America as part of Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, AZ. Through an internship at the Samakow law firm, she found a passion for justice. Isabella wants to earn a law degree in order to give minorities who are less fortunate a voice in the courtroom and help them receive the aid they need.

Get to Know Jasmin: Jasmin is a graduate of Lafayette High School and will be continuing her studies at Old Dominion University in the fall. Jasmin has been an active volunteer and student athlete. She served as the Vice President of DECA and as the Treasurer of the Athletic Training Club. She was also a member of  the American Sign Language Honor Society, Key Club, Principal Committee Advisory, and Athletes Tutor Athletes.  Jasmin is a multi- sport athlete and leader, as a team captain and player for her Field Hockey, Basketball, and Soccer teams. She helped lead her soccer team to Lafayette's first 3A State Championship being named 1st team All-State and All-Region in the past two years and was honored as the Region 3A Co-Player of the Year. 

Get to Know Divyang: Divyang is a Tesoro High School graduate and will be attending the University of California at Berkeley this fall, majoring in engineering. During high school, Divyang was an active student leader. He founded multiple new clubs, including Globemunity and Bloggers’ Circle. He also served as the Drum Major of the marching band and the Event Coordinator for the National Honor Society. Divyang also participated in academic competitions including Math Olympiad, Science Olympiad, and Academic Decathlon.

Get to Know Kaitlyn: Kaitlyn is a graduate of Chantilly High School and will attend Virginia Tech this fall, majoring in Consumer Studies with a minor in Digital Marketing Strategy. During high school, she served as an Executive Board Member in the Black Student Association and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was on the varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track teams where she earned recognition as a three-time Most Outstanding Sprinter and made the All-District, Region, and State teams. Kaitlyn has a strong commitment to serving others, collecting clothing donations for the Women Giving Back organization, given over 50 hours of service to the D.C. National Guard family center food pantry, and volunteering with JJS Missions to assist Haitians with disaster relief supplies. 

Get to Know Chase: Chase is a graduate of Melbourne High School and will attend Auburn University in the fall with plans to study Landscape Architecture. As an active volunteer, student athlete and musician, Chase ran cross country, track and field, played on the drumline, and performed in the jazz band as well as earned his Eagle Scout.  In addition to his studies at Auburn, Chase plans to continue his love for music by playing with the church music ministry. In his future career, Chase aspires to design environmentally friendly parks that enhance the beauty of cities.

Get to Know Joseph: Joseph will be attending the University of Virginia this Fall,  majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biomedical Engineering. Joseph is focused on how technology can improve healthcare. Joseph taught himself computer science and in his free time enjoys coding challenges and developing fun tools and web applications. At UVA he plans to join Chi Alpha, a Christian community on campus, play and compete with the UVA Chess Club and continue his  research at Link Lab at UVA, working on ground-breaking cardiovascular research.

Get to Know Maya: Maya will be majoring in Criminology, attending NOVA Community College for two years starting this fall and then transferring to James Madison University.  Maya’s goal is to go on to attend law school and become a criminal justice attorney. Maya graduated from high school a year early, while taking many AP courses and maintaining a 4.0 GPA.  She was also an active volunteer and athlete, playing volleyball, volunteering at local thrift stores, and participating in dancing and singing competitions.

Get to Know Grace: Grace is the first child and daughter of Sierra Leone immigrants and proud to set an example for her two younger brothers. This fall, Grace will be attending Hampton University and plans to major in Computer Information Systems and minor in graphic design. During high school, she participated in marching band and was the Woodwind captain. She also served as captain of the tennis team in her junior and senior year. She has been actively involved in her community through her church, participating in mission trips and projects since middle school. As a passionate musician and member of her high school band, she made All District Band for two years and All State Band this year. She looks forward to joining Hampton’s marching band this fall.

Get to Know Mariella: This fall Mariella will attend the College of William & Mary and study Computer Science. During her time at Herndon High School, she was a volunteer, musician and student-athlete.  She was on the field hockey and track teams. She was an active member of Girls Who Code and President of the ACE Club, (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering). She was in National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and Music Honor Society. She played the violin for various orchestras since the fourth grade. Mariella is also a Girl Scout that enjoys volunteering in her community. Last year Mariella completed an internship with Mortenson Construction Company and another internship at the Children’s Science Center.

Get to Know Sneha: Sneha will be attending the University of Virginia this fall, majoring in statistics and minoring in data analysis. Sneha participated in robotics in all four years of high school and plans to continue robotics at UVA. Sneha is now interning with the “Hit Like a Girl” podcast, working with a community of women to spread the love of STEM all over the nation. 

Get to Know Isabella: Isabella is a first-generation Chilean American. She will be studying Computer Science at the College of William & Mary in the fall. During her time at Westfield High School, she participated on the school's hip hop dance team, performing at community events and professional basketball games. In her senior year, she served as hip hop team Captain, along with being a student leader of Westfield’s College Partnership Program and the Latinx Student Association. Isabella also received National Hispanic Recognition from the College Board, having earned a perfect score on the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam. 

Get to Know Sophia: Sophia is a graduate of James Madison High School and will be attending Dartmouth College this fall. She is majoring in Government, with hopes of pursuing law in the future. She is an avid member of her school's Debate Team and Model UN clubs and is active in her community as a Gold Award Girl Scout and founder of her own non-profit organization, Change the World for Girls. She also swims competitively for Machine Aquatics and will continue her athletic career at the Division 1 level at Dartmouth.

Get to Know Jessica: A recent graduate of Herndon High School, Jessica will continue her education at Virginia Tech this fall where she plans to major in Food Science & Technology and minor in Mathematics. In high school, Jessica was an active student leader and volunteer. She was a part of numerous honor societies, tutored students in math and chemistry and was heavily involved in the arts, specifically Herndon's Choral Program. Jessica was a part of numerous choral ensembles including the highest ensemble, the Herndon Madrigals. In her senior year, Jessica took on a leadership role in choir and was appointed as a student leader. In addition to her studies, Jessica plans to continue to grow her love of music through Virginia Tech's Choral Program and aspires to help others along the way.

Get to Know Salman: Salman is a proud graduate of Park View High School. Salman is an accomplished student, a three-season varsity athlete, and community leader. He competed at the varsity level in basketball, football, and track, and he was an active member of the National Honors Society and National English Honors Society. Salman balanced his academics and activities and graduated in the top 15 in his class. Salman is an Eagle Scout and acts as a leader of younger scouts in his Troop. Salman will study Civil Engineering at Northern Virginia Community College for two years before transferring to Virginia Tech to complete his engineering degree. 

Get to Know Veniel: Veniel graduated from Osbourn High School and plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. While at Osbourn, she was a member of the National Honor Society, the Interact Club, the AVID program, and served as a Student Representative on the Manassas City School Board for two years. Veniel plans to go on to Medical School and eventually go into a career in pediatrics.

Get to Know Israel: Israel Eduardo will be studying business management at George Mason University starting this fall. During his time at Park View High School, he was the vice president of the Red Cross Club, organizing events and blood drives for those in the community. The proceeds earned from these events were donated to charities specializing in immunizations. In addition, he was an active volunteer at his local church and food pantry.

Get to Know Aleida: Aleida graduated from Justice High School in Falls Church. In the fall, she plans to attend Northern Virginia Community College where she will study pre-med. After finishing her associates degree she plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth to continue her studies with a goal of becoming a Pediatrician or Pediatric Nurse. Aleida has a passion for the medical field and has spent much of her high school years working in part time jobs in medical settings including at Premium Health Care where she works with disabled patients. In her spare time she participates in the youth group at her church where she explores her faith, participates in programs to help the homeless, and participates in church social activities.  

Get to Know Mercedes: Mercedes graduated from Justice High School in 2023 and will be attending Northern Virginia Community College in the fall to become an obstetric sonographer. In addition to working part-time throughout high school, Mercedes played softball and was the captain of the volleyball team at Justice. She also served as a manager, mentor, and tutor for a basketball team for disabled teens. She volunteered as a youth worker at Second Story in Culmore where she mentored younger students and organized speakers for a career exploration program. 

Get to Know Bryson: Bryson graduated from Oakton High School after spending his middle school and early high school years in Canberra, Australia.  An Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow Member, Bryson is very involved in scouting, service, and outdoor activities. He has done international community service work in remote communities in Nepal and Vietnam.  Having played soccer most of his life, as well as football and water polo in high school, Bryson is excited to continue his passion for sports as a collegiate athlete at Wilson College, where he will play soccer and major in Exercise Science. 

Get to Know Arnny: Arnny graduated from Justice High School and plans to attend Northern Virginia Community College this fall. He moved from Bolivia to the United States to live with his sister and her family and is grateful for the opportunities and experiences he found here. Arnny is a very active community volunteer, focused on causes that support the types of challenges that he has personally overcome. He volunteers at Second Story because he wants to give back to the organization that helped him so much when he was younger. He volunteers with Hispanics Against Child Abuse & Neglect, a nonprofit educational and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening Hispanic families. In addition, every Sunday, Arnny volunteers with his church to assist with weekly food distribution in the community. 

Get to Know Nick: Nick is a graduate of Justice High School in Falls Church, Virginia. He will be attending the College of William & Mary in the fall and majoring in Biology and Psychology. In high school, he was the president of STAR Club and volunteered at his local library. Nick is interested in becoming a cancer researcher or an anesthesiologist in the future.

Get to Know Emery: Emery graduated from Wakefield High School in 2022 and is a rising sophomore attending Virginia Tech. Emery is double majoring in International Relations and Spanish and minoring in French. Emery will be studying abroad in Europe during the next year as well. Emery is on the Virginia Tech Crew Team and serves as the coxswain, the person in charge of the boat and its navigation. While at Virginia Tech, Emery has been an active volunteer at a local elementary school in Blacksburg, helping students whose first language is not English by providing them with additional support in the classroom. 

Get to Know Aiden: Aiden is a graduate of Herndon High School. Aiden plans to attend James Madison University in the fall, majoring in Business Management, with a minor in Sports Communication and has been admitted to the Honors Program.  During high school, Aiden played Varsity Baseball earning Academic Honor Roll all four years. He was a member of National Honors Society and the Chief Sports Editor of Herndon High School's student run newspaper, The Stinger. Aiden plans to play Club Baseball for JMU.   

Get to Know Emma: Emma attended Park View High School in Sterling, Virginia. In her free time, she like to act and cheer. In the fall, Emma will be attending Iona University in New Rochelle, NY where she will compete on their Division I Acrobatics and Tumbling team and major in sports media
 

Get to Know Guadalupe: Guadalupe is a proud graduate of Justice High School in Falls Church. She will be attending Northern Virginia Community College this fall and studying to become a sonography technician. Guadalupe’s inspiration has been her grandmother who raised her and encouraged her to work hard and be financially independent. During high school, Guadalupe worked year-round in various part-time jobs while pursuing her dream to graduate high school and continue on to college. She is extremely excited to be taking this next step towards her career and grateful to her grandmother, teachers and the community organizations that are helping to make this dream come true.

Get to Know Sean: Sean graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2022 and is entering his sophomore year at Cornell University, majoring in chemistry with minors in business and music. In high school, he tutored middle school students in STEM subjects, played the saxophone as a member of the wind ensemble, served as Activities Coordinator for the Chemistry Society, and ran Track and Cross Country. Now at Cornell, he is a member of the Cornell Milstein Program, the Cornell Wind Symphony, and participates in a STEM-mentoring program for elementary schoolers in the Ithaca community. Sean’s goal is to explore how chemistry can be used to address some of today’s most pressing issues. 

Get to Know Madison: Madison recently graduated from South Carroll High School in Mt. Airy, Maryland and plans to attend the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall, majoring in dietetics. While in high school, she was dual enrolled at Carroll Community College and served as the Vice President of Project Linus and Vice President of the Science National Honor Society. She also completed an internship with Carroll County Public Schools Food Services, which grew her passion for childhood nutrition. Madison also earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by starting a Daisy Troop in her community.