2023-2024 Scholarship Awards
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's scholarship program supports local students in achieving their educational and career goals. With 35 scholarship funds, the program provides financial assistance based on academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement, helping students pursue advanced degrees and skills-based training in fields critical to the region's workforce.
Read about each scholarship fund’s area of focus and see the 2023-2024 award winners below.
Alex Thomas Effort Award
Supports a Junior or Senior at James Madison High School and member of the Swim and Dive team. The Selection Committee seeks candidates that demonstrate dedication and a positive attitude and who is also a good mentor to younger students.
| Anabel Huffstutler | Iona University |
| Matthew Schlueter | University of Virginia |
Provides scholarships to graduating students from Unity Reed High School intending to pursue a degree in healthcare.
| Mary Afriyie | Virginia Tech |
| Anthony James Ascone | George Mason University |
| Mary Cruz | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Mohamed El Hadj Sidi | George Mason University |
| Sophia Hassen | Yale University |
Provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Northern Virginia for students interested in continuing their education in the STEM fields.
| Raihana Akther | Virginia Tech |
| Mouad Tazka | University of Virginia |
Anna M. Davison Scholarship
Supports graduating seniors of New Franklin High School in New Franklin, MO, who plan to pursue a degree in nursing.
| Abigail Colborn | University of Missouri |
Ashworth Grogan Scholarship*
Supports high school seniors residing in Northern Virginia and college students at the Northern Virginia Community College advancing their education through the pursuit of an advanced certification or degree in the fields of education and health.
| Keily Castillo | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Yajaira Vanessa Escobar Reyes | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Selam Fessha | George Mason University |
| Hanan Ibrahim | George Mason University |
| Oluwatoni Isaacs | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Danielle Kim | University of Richmond |
| Victoria Kim | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Yosmary M Limas | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Wael Mbarki | Marymount University |
| Ted Ngaleu | Albright College |
| Millicent Okoro | Trinity Washington University |
| Geisha Nattasha Perez | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Keylin Reyes | George Mason University |
| Kevin Salgado | George Mason University |
| Gianna Stephens | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Adriana Vidal | Longwood University |
| Cristin Rodas Watzon | Northern Virginia Community College |
Barbara Cornwell Memorial Scholarship Fund
Supports graduating seniors from Unity Reed High School in Manassas, VA seeking an education beyond high school.
| Lauryn Sanchez Cepero | Northern Virginia Community College |
Provides scholarships for graduating high school and current college students that demonstrate a passion for, and have been positively impacted by, competitive swimming.
| Adam Manley | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Lauren Wagner | Providence College |
Booz Allen Celebrate Abilities Scholarship*
Supports students who self-identify as a child of a disabled Booz Allen Hamilton employee, or as a disabled child of a Booz Allen Hamilton employee. Preference will be given to applicants interested in pursuing an education in the STEM fields, and who have a vision to improve the lives of those in the disability community.
| Andres del Castillo | Pennsylvania State University |
| Jackson Ross | University of Virginia |
| Amoolya Vatambeti | University of South Florida |
Booz Allen Hamilton Vision Scholarship*
Supports five scholarships per year for four years for legal dependents of Booz Allen Hamilton employees. Awards are based on demonstrated superior academic achievement, character, and citizenship activities.
| Patrick Thomas Barry | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Praneet Boggarapu | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Aarushi Dubey | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Arianna Gehan | Stevens Institute of Tech |
| Nathan Hargreaves | Virginia Tech |
| Hannah Jones | The University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Carter Lankford | University of California, Berkeley |
| Patrick Scott Lathan | Ohio State University |
| Megan Lawson | University of Virginia |
| Ramcharan Venkata Malladi | University of Virginia |
| Julia Noppenberger | Haverford College |
| Brittany Peng | Georgetown University |
| Grace Pluemacher | College of the Desert |
| Nithya Ramani | Virginia Tech |
| Siddhartha Rangavajjula | University of Chicago |
| Jackson Ross | University of Virginia |
| Sachiko Alison Sakaniwa | University of Vermont, Burlington |
| Karen Song | Harvard University |
| Pranay Vure | Duke University |
| Avery Watkins | Stanford University |
Cameron and Virginia Dye Scholarship*
Supports graduating seniors from Arlington County Public Schools. Awards are based on community or school activities/service, academic achievement and financial need.
| David Cordova | James Madison University |
Charles Homer Barton Memorial Scholarship*
Supports children of police officers in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. Five scholarships are awarded each year.
| Olivia Bruns | University of Delaware |
| Sydney Coderre | University of Kentucky |
| Benjamin Ellis | Liberty University |
| Brendon O'Hara | Frostburg State University |
| Susan Pirnat | Christopher Newport University |
christopher consultants Civil Engineering Scholarship
Benefits students graduating from Unity Reed High School in Manassas, VA pursuing higher education at a Virginia state accredited university in the studies of civil engineering, surveying, or landscape architecture.
| Shafin Anika | Old Dominion University |
| Alexander Hazlett | George Mason University |
| Ronald Villatoros Ortiz Jr | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Luis Ramos-Garcia | University of Virginia |
Dorothy Jean Coates Scholarship Foundation Fund
Benefits nontraditional students enrolled in a college or university.
| Kenise Lewis | Northern Virginia Community College |
Elizabeth Koury Scholarship*
Supports graduating high school seniors with financial need who live in Northern Virginia, demonstrate academic excellence, and plan to pursue a career in medicine.
| Nalin Aggarwal | Boston University |
| Jiyoon Beris | Johns Hopkins University |
| Vivian Cao-Dao | University of Virginia |
| Catherine Grace Chmura | Pennsylvania State University |
| Isabella C Drake | Western Washington University |
| Jenna Paige Freilich | University of Virginia |
| Riya Kanwar Maheshwari | Georgetown University |
| Hayly Y-nhi Nguyen | University of Virginia |
| Huzaifa Shafique | University of Pennsylvania |
| Ra'Asia Uddin | Longwood University |
Jackson Robert Greene Memorial Athletic Scholarship
Supports one female and one male varsity athlete from Herndon High School who could be “counted on” both on and off the field.
| Cameron Elliott | James Madison University |
| Amanda Green | The University of South Carolina |
| Andrew Horyczun | Baruch College |
John Franklin Hiller Memorial Scholarship
Supports seniors at West Springfield High School who have demonstrated interest, skill and promise in the writing of poetry.
| Max Kroll | Beloit College |
Kathryn Louise Davison Scholarship
Supports a graduating senior from Mansfield High School in Mansfield, MA, who plans to major in English/communications or teaching.
| Joseph Avitabile | Quinnipiac University |
Kelly Elizabeth Baker Memorial Scholarship
Supports a graduating senior from St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church/Knights of Columbus, Council 8600. The winner is selected based on civic and religious activities, scholastic achievements, and spiritual and artistic development during the student's senior year.
| Anna Bohli | Ave Maria University |
Leslie Richardson Memorial Swan & Sparrow Scholarship Fund
Provides scholarships to benefit students studying musical performance, jazz studies or choral conducting at a historically or predominantly black college or university (HBCU).
| Jordyn Packer | Howard University |
| Sofia Lynn Smith | Howard University |
Leslie V. Forte Scholarship Fund*
Supports minority students attending the Northern Virginia Community College. Awards are made with consideration for academic achievement and demonstrated loyalty to NVCC through involvement in extra-curricular activities.
| Jannatul Ferdaus | Northern Virginia Community College |
Louise Lightner Jamison Scholarship*
Supports high school seniors residing in Prince William County who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in the field of education.
| Ava DeWald | James Madison University |
| Taylor Weaver | James Madison University |
Michell Merhige Scholarship
Supports graduating seniors attending a Fairfax County public school who have overcome many personal obstacles and plan to pursue a college degree.
| Akua Durowaa Acheampong | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Helen Centeno | Juniata College |
| Elizabeth Forrest | Middlebury College |
| Ruun Osman | George Mason University |
Miss Aranetta Memorial Scholarship
Supports a senior in Studio Bleu Dance Center in Ashburn, Virginia who is able to effectively convey how dance has impacted their life.
| Rachel Borowsky | University of Virginia |
Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship*
Supports first responders and dependents of active first responders in the Northern Virginia Area by helping to finance their higher education.
| Dinan Elsyad | Harvard University |
| Kathryn Homa | Duke University |
| Olivia Lippincott | University of Georgia |
| Jason Nguyen | James Madison University |
| Tegan Powers | University of Texas at Austin |
| Andrew Sager | Old Dominion University |
| Margaret 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*
Supports women pursuing careers in STEM related fields.
| Sneha Aryal | University of Virginia |
| Amel Mohdali | Spelman College |
| Lilie Puck-Karam | University of Virginia |
| Sharvani Roy | University of Pittsburgh |
| Sharlette Vijoy | Virginia Tech |
Plein Environmental Scholarship Fund
Provides scholarships to benefit graduating high school seniors and current NVCC students in need of financial assistance pursuing an associate degree at Northern Virginia Community College and intending to receive admission to a four-year university to pursue a degree in an environmental-related field.
| Anh Tue Bui | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Ahmed Ibrahim | Virginia Tech |
| Anna Labrie | Virginia Tech |
Supports graduating seniors from South Lakes High School in Reston with demonstrated financial need who will be attending accredited two- or four-year degree programs.
| Dina Abdon | George Mason University |
| Zina Abdon | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Mariam Alsaadi | George Mason University |
| Carolina Barajas | St. Philip’s College |
| Emeli Avalos Barillas | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Melani Beltran | Texas A&M University - San Antonio |
| Zayyan Budiman | Marymount University |
| Ian Cruz | University of Virginia |
| Maybelline Cruz | George Mason University |
| Thomas Joseph Fletcher | George Mason University |
| Ahad Khattak | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Javaria Khattak | George Mason University |
| Kaynat Khattak | George Mason University |
| Mishal Khattak | George Washington University |
| Anisa Mahamed | George Mason University |
| Janell Morris | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Daniel Ogun | George Mason University |
| Nicol Salinas Perez | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Samira Samadi | George Mason University |
| Farhan Seyedzadegan | George Mason University |
| Aiza Shahbaz | George Mason University |
| Saniya Sharieff | George Mason University |
| Jennifer Sorto | Northern Virginia Community College |
| Rione Marie Tecson | George Mason University |
Robert Spencer Memorial Scholarship
Supports students at Patriot District High School who have Special Needs (as documented in an IEP), and preferably those who are pursuing higher education and a career in technology.
| Palmer Smith | George Mason University |
Rose Koury Scholarship*
Supports graduating high school seniors with financial need who live in Northern Virginia, demonstrate academic excellence, and plan to pursue a career in education.
| Lacey Brinson | Bridgewater College |
| Corbey Galkin | James Madison University |
| Eliana Glover | Roanoke College |
| Naim Gmati | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Emileigh Rose Mills | Shippensburg University |
| Charley Piercy | University of Alabama |
| Jaina Soppet | George Mason University |
| Lindsay Marie Staub | James Madison University |
| Ashleigh Anne Trudell | George Mason University |
Vance International, Inc. Scholarship*
Supports residents of Northern Virginia pursuing careers in law enforcement or security including the administration of justice.
| Gurnasib Rataul | George Washington University |
| MacKenzie Waddell | Florida State University |
William J. Foreman Memorial Scholarship
Supports graduating seniors of Fairfax County Public Schools who have overcome significant adversity with priority given to those who have experienced homelessness, were in foster care, and/or lacked substantial family support during their high school careers.
| Akua Durowaa Acheampong | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Farah Al-Naser | James Madison University |
| Victoria Anane | University of Virginia |
| Helen Centeno | Juniata College |
| Phuong Anh Quach | George Mason University |
Supports a graduating senior at Chantilly High School who demonstrates enthusiasm for learning, resiliency, integrity, and love of social studies.
| Sarah Garza | Virginia Commonwealth University |
*Scholarship processes managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia
This year, the Community Foundation launched The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia to build a community resource for high school seniors seeking financial assistance to pursue higher education at a Virginia public university or community college. The fund was established as a component of the Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, an endowment that will forever support students across the region.
Meera & Shankar Pillai, Pillai Family Fund Advisors
"We are thrilled to serve as the inaugural donors of The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia. The Community Foundation's mission of creating a community that works for everyone' is best served through the pillar of education. We strongly believe that investing in the education of deserving students not only transforms their lives but invests in the future leaders of our region."
Vivian Cao Dao, Scholarship Recipient
READ MORE"With the Elizabeth Koury scholarship’s multi-year award, I was able to fund my neuroscience studies at UVA and prepare for my journey to medical school."
