Contact:
Tara Nadel
703-879-7637
tara.nadel@cfnova.org  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards over $500,000 in Scholarships, Empowering 114 Students’ Educational Dreams

Building The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia, a source of “forever support” for students in our region
 
Fairfax, VA (June 17, 2024) – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $506,600 in scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year to 114 students pursuing higher education. This substantial financial support encapsulates the 35 Community Foundation scholarship funds launched by individual donors over the years wishing to make a difference for students in Northern Virginia and beyond. These efforts reflect the Foundation’s commitment to fostering educational opportunities and supportive legacies throughout the region.
 
Individual scholarship awards range from $1,500 to $6,000 for students pursuing a particular field of study (at the undergraduate or graduate level) or with specific skills-based interests. Additionally, more than 50 dedicated volunteers scrutinized over 500 scholarship applications this year, demonstrating the Community Foundation’s deep investment in the academic futures of Northern Virginia’s youth.
 
Introducing The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia
Building on the success of the scholarship awards program, the Community Foundation launched The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia in December 2023 to address the financial hurdles associated with the first year of college tuition. As an endowment, this fund is a component of The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, designed to offer lasting support for graduating seniors from Northern Virginia’s nine public school systems who plan to attend a public university or community college in Virginia.
 
This fund will bolster the impact of the Community Foundation’s scholarship program while promoting social and economic mobility in Northern Virginia, one of the Community Foundation’s strategic priorities for the region. Indeed, it will directly support students from under-resourced and English Second Language families. These students often view higher education’s initial tuition costs as an insurmountable barrier to college.
 
"We are honored to be the inaugural donors of The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia," said Meera and Shankar Pillai, Northern Virginia natives and advisors of the Pillai Family Fund at the Community Foundation. "This fund is dedicated to helping local students achieve their dreams of higher education at a Virginia public institution. We believe that investing in these deserving students not only transforms their lives but also cultivates the future leaders of our region."
 
2024 Scholarship Awardees
Below is a full list of the Community Foundation’s 2024 scholarship recipients and the scholarships they have been awarded. Please note that the following symbols denote:
*Scholarship Committees Managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
+Renewed support for scholarship recipients from the previous year
 
Alex Thomas Effort Award Fund, $1,500
Supports a junior or senior at James Madison High School on the Swim and Dive team. The Selection Committee seeks candidates who demonstrate dedication and a positive attitude and also serve as a good mentor to younger students.
Ethan Morrow – James Madison HS
 
*Amin Family Scholarship Fund, $5,000 each
Provides scholarships to graduating students from Unity Reed High School intending to pursue a degree in healthcare.
Anonymous (2)
Mia Pytel – Unity Reed HS, attending Longwood University
 
*AMS Opportunity Scholarship Fund, $2,500 each
Provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Northern Virginia who are interested in continuing their education in the STEM fields.
Jayden Ko – Gainesville HS, attending Virginia Tech
Samina Mouhamed – Stone Bridge HS, attending Virginia Tech
Shuborno Zaman – South County HS, attending Virginia Tech
 
The Anna M. Davison Scholarship Fund
Supports graduating seniors of New Franklin High School in New Franklin, MO, who plan to pursue a degree in nursing.
Gracie Martin
 
*Ashworth Grogan Scholarship Fund, $5,000 each
The Ashworth Grogan Scholarship Fund was established to benefit high school seniors residing in Northern Virginia and college students at Northern Virginia Community College pursuing an advanced certification or degree in the education and health fields.
Anonymous (2)
Ceily Baten – Falls Church HS, attending Northern Virginia Community College
+Keily Castillo – Northern Virginia Community College
+Yajaira Escobar Reye – Northern Virginia Community College
+Danielle Kim – University of Richmond
Danh Le – Woodbridge HS, attending George Mason University
+Yosmay Limas – Northern Virginia Community College
Valeria Alvarado Martinez – Potomac Falls HS, attending James Madison University
+Ted Ngaleu – Albright College
+Millicent Okoro – Trinity Washington University
Lisi Orozco Yoc – John R. Lewis HS, attending Northern Virginia Community College
+Gianna Stephens – Northern Virginia Community College
+Chase Sudki – Christopher Newport University
+Adriana Vidal – Longwood University
Zaarin Zara – Park View HS, attending Northern Virginia Community College
 
Barbara Cornwell Memorial Scholarship Fund, $5,000
Supports graduating seniors from Unity Reed High School in Manassas, VA, seeking post-secondary education.
Caden Johns – Unity Reed HS
 
*Bentley Family Scholarship Fund, $5,000 each
Provides scholarships for graduating high school and current college students who demonstrate a passion for (and have been positively impacted by) competitive swimming.
Mikayla Bartos – West Springfield HS, attending Duquesne University
Colin McGee – Annandale HS, attending College of the Holy Cross
 
*Booz Allen Hamilton Vision Scholarship, $3,000 each
Supports five scholarships per year over four years for legal dependents of Booz Allen Hamilton employees from anywhere around the world. Awards are based on superior academic achievement, character, and citizenship activities.
Anonymous
+Patrick Barry – Georgia Institute of Technology
+Praneet Boggarapu – University of Maryland, College Park
Shreeya Chand – River Hill HS, attending University of Southern California
+Aarushi Dubey – University of Maryland
+Arianna Gehan – Stevens Institute of Technology
+Nathan Hargreaves – Virginia Tech
+Hannah Jones – UNC, Chapel Hill
+Carter Lankford – University of California, Berkeley
+Patrick Lathan – The Ohio State University
+Megan Lawson – University of Virginia
+Ramcharan Malladi – University of Virginia
Josephine May – Philip Simmons HS, attending Clemson University
Claire Nipper – Omaha Central HS, attending Loyola University Chicago
+Julia Noppenberger – Haverford College
+Brittany Peng – Georgetown University
+Grace Pluemacher – New York University
+Nithya Ramani – Virginia Tech
+Siddhartha Rangavajjula – University of Chicago
+Jackson Ross – University of Virginia
+Sachi Sakaniwa – University of Vermont, Burlington
+Karen Song – Harvard University
Sebastien Spencer – Glenelg HS, attending Brigham Young University
Jack Varga – Holly Springs HS (NC), attending University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
+Pranay Vure – Duke University
+Avery Watkins – Standford University
 
*Charles Homer Barton Scholarship Fund, $4,000 each
Supports children of police officers in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. Five scholarships are awarded each year.
Gavin Lambert – Jefferson HS, attending West Virginia University
Aden Missler – Woodgrove HS, attending Christopher Newport University
Hayley Palenscar – Patriot HS, attending Virginia Tech
Theodore Rudolph – Legacy Christian Academy, attending University of Northwestern Ohio
Charlotte Smith – Independence HS, attending Duquesne University
 
christopher consultants Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund
Benefits students graduating from Unity Reed High School in Manassas, VA, and pursuing higher education at a Virginia state-accredited university to study civil engineering, surveying, or landscape architecture.
+Shafin Anika – Old Dominion University
+Alexander Hazlett – George Mason University
+Luis Ramos-Garcia – University of Virginia
+Ronald Villatoros – Northern Virginia Community College
 
*Denise Dowse Drama Scholarship Fund, $1,000
The Denise Dowse Drama Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Denise “Denny” Yvonne Dowse (W.T. Woodson HS ’76), a talented Hollywood actor, director, teacher, and mentor. This scholarship benefits the drama and drama technology seniors of W.T. Woodson High School.
Lucas Bickford – Woodson HS, attending University of Mary Washington
 
Dorothy Jean Coates Scholarship Foundation Fund, $1,000 each
Benefits nontraditional students (such as those attending part-time or working full-time while in school) enrolled in a college or university.
Sonja-Renée Jones
Alyssa Ross
 
*Elizabeth Koury Scholarship Fund, $5,000 each
Supports a graduating high school senior who lives in Northern Virginia, demonstrates academic excellence and financial need, and plans to pursue a career in medicine.
+Nalin Aggarwal – Boston University
+Jiyoon Beris – Johns Hopkins University
+Vivian Cao-Dao – University of Virginia
Alexandra Caraus – Centerville HS, attending Virginia Tech
+Catherine Chmura – Penn State University
+Isabella Drake – Western Washington University
+Jenna Freilich – University of Virginia
+Riya Maheshwari – Georgetown University
+Hayly Nguyen – University of Virginia
Zahra Ramakdawala – Woodson HS, attending The Ohio State University
+Huzaifa Shafique – University of Pennsylvania
+Ra’Asia Uddin – Longwood University
 
Jackson Robert Greene Memorial Athletic Scholarship Fund, $2,000 each
Supports one female and one male varsity athlete from Herndon High School who could be "counted on" both on and off the field.
Brady Calderwood, Herndon HS
Kate Keane, Herndon HS
 
John Franklin Hiller Memorial Fund, $1,700
Supports West Springfield High School seniors who have demonstrated interest, skill, and promise in poetry writing.
Anonymous
 
The Kathryn Louise Davison Scholarship Fund, $2,000
Supports a graduating senior from Mansfield High School in Mansfield, MA, who plans to major in English/communications or teaching.
Cameron Bailey – Mansfield HS
 
Kelly Elizabeth Baker & Family Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,500
Supports a graduating senior who is a member of St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church/Knights of Columbus, Council 8600. The winner is selected based on artistic, scholastic, and spiritual development during the student's senior year.
Katherine Bohli – Bishop O’Connell HS
 
*Leslie V. Forte Scholarship Fund, $2,000
Supports minority students attending Northern Virginia Community College. Awards will be made with consideration for academic achievement and demonstrated loyalty to NVCC through involvement in extracurricular activities.
Jaylen Rocha – Attending Northern Virginia Community College
 
*Louise Lightner Jamison Teacher Scholarship Fund, $2,000 each
Supports high school seniors residing in Prince William County who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in education.
Lauren Dyas – Battlefield HS, attending James Madison University
Jordan Ignacio – Battlefield HS, attending University of Louisville
 
Michell Merhige Scholarship Fund, $1,500 each
Supports graduating seniors attending a Fairfax County public school who have overcome personal obstacles and plan to pursue a college degree.
Gia Bui – Fairfax HS
Santiago Gomez Diaz – Falls Church HS, attending George Mason University
Victoria Machado – Falls Church HS
Imani Walls – South Lakes HS
 
*Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship Fund, $4,000 each
Supports first responders and dependents of active first responders in Northern Virginia by helping finance their higher education.
Grayson Carnall – Woodgrove HS, attending College of William & Mary
Rudra Dave – Chantilly HS, attending University of Virginia
+Dinan Elsyad – Harvard University
Riley Gardner – Lake Braddock SS, attending Utah State University
Alice Haeske – Osbourn Park HS, attending Kellogg Community College
+Kathryn Homa – Duke University
+Heba Kamal – Virginia Tech
+Olivia Lippincott – University of Georgia
+Jarod Missler – Christopher Newport University
+Jason Nguyen – James Madison University
+Tegan Powers – University of Texas at Austin
+Andrew Sager – Old Dominion University
+Margaret (“Maggie”) Short – Virginia Commonwealth University
+Jacob Sundberg – Virginia Tech
+Emma Wetmore – Virginia Tech
+Michael Zhang – Columbia University in the City of New York
 
*NVTC Foundation Kilberg Scholarship Fund, $5,000 each
Supports women pursuing careers in STEM-related fields.
Anonymous
Ananya Gupta – John Champe/Academies of Loudoun, attending Duke University
Katelyn Miller – Loudoun Valley HS, attending Harvard University
Lima Naimi – Loudoun Valley HS, attending University of Virginia
Summer Schwedes – Tuscarora/Academies of Loudoun, attending University of South Carolina
 
Plein Environmental Scholarship Fund, $5,000 each
Provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors and current NVCC students who require financial assistance to pursue an associate degree at Northern Virginia Community College and plan to earn a degree in an environmental-related field at a four-year university.
+Anh Tue Bui – Virginia Tech
+Leilani Cabrera – Northern Virginia Community College
Kenley Eisenmenger
+Ahmed Ibrahim – Virginia Tech
+Anna Labrie – Virginia Tech
Cierra Telleen
Nora Waide
 
Reston Scholarship Fund ($16,000 over Four Years)
Supports graduating seniors from South Lakes High School in Reston, VA, with demonstrated financial need who plan to pursue a two- or four-year degree program.
Jeffrey Agbenouwope – South Lakes HS
Ayub Assin Ali– South Lakes HS
Umair Bhalli– South Lakes HS
Meshcat Dauod– South Lakes HS
Younas Durrani– South Lakes HS
Hadeil Hassan– South Lakes HS
Matahara Hussaini– South Lakes HS
Leena Hussan– South Lakes HS
Armin Khazai– South Lakes HS
Mohammad Shirdel– South Lakes HS
 
*Rose Koury Scholarship Fund
Supports a graduating high school senior who lives in Northern Virginia, demonstrates academic excellence and financial need, and plans to pursue a career in education.
+Lacy Brinson – Bridgewater College
+Corbey Galkin – James Madison University
+Eliana Glover – Roanoke College
+Naim Gmati – Virginia Commonwealth University
+Emileigh Mills – Shippensburg University
+Charley Piercy – University of Alabama
+Jaina Soppet – George Mason University
+Lindsey Staub – James Madison University
+Ashleigh Trudell – George Mason University
 
*Vance International, Inc. Scholarship Fund, $2,200 each
Supports residents of Northern Virginia pursuing careers in law enforcement or security, including the administration of justice.
Grayson Cantarella – Battlefield HS, attending University of Utah
Nour Ben Hammouda – Washington Liberty HS, attending University of Virginia
 
William J. Foreman Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,000 each
Supports graduating seniors of Fairfax County Public Schools who have overcome significant adversity. Priority is given to those who have experienced homelessness, were in foster care, or lacked substantial family support during their high school careers.
Esther De Leon-Callejas
Victoria Machado – Falls Church HS
Louis Mendieta
Jose Requeno
Imani Walls – South Lakes HS
 
Yuthud Oberdick Scholarship Fund, $2000
Supports a graduating senior at Chantilly High School who demonstrates enthusiasm for learning, resiliency, integrity, and a love of social studies.
Andrea Goetzke – Chantilly HS
 
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ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Founded in 1978, the Community Foundation has been the premier charitable partner trusted by thousands of generous Northern Virginians for decades. Our mission is to advance equity through philanthropy and community leadership. Comprised of donor-advised funds, permanent funds, giving circles, and other charitable endowments, the Community Foundation’s vision is to build a community that works for everyone. Our Community Foundation serves the entire region, including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
www.cfnova.org