2026 Scholarship Nominees
Nori Carter of St. Anne’s Belfield
Driven by the belief that love is best expressed through tangible action, Nori has dedicated her high school career to community building and advocacy. At St. Anne’s, she founded the "Split’s Club," creating a vital support system for students navigating the complexities of parental divorce, separation, incarceration, or loss. A proficient Spanish speaker, she authored the children’s book Amigos del Océano, which she presented to the Discovery Children’s Museum to promote literacy and environmental awareness. When she identified a gap in accessibility for milestone celebrations, she collaborated with Mayor Juandiego Wade’s office to provide free senior portrait sessions to dozens of local students. Nori has engaged in extensive work in public policy. She co-founded a local chapter of the Virginia Young Democrats, volunteered for the Spanberger campaign, and organized fundraising efforts to support the unhoused community. Nori plans to study public policy in college, aiming to ensure that every individual—regardless of background or language—has a permanent seat at the table.
Elizabeth Cook of Monticello High School
Elizabeth’s high school career has been a series of high-impact adventures. From hosting guest speakers to working as a lifeguard and private swim instructor, she demonstrates her intellect and deep-seated compassion. As president of both the National Honor and the National History Honor Societies, she helped organize food drives, mentored middle schoolers, and recruited 50 new members. She was also captain of the swim team and a standout defender in field hockey and twice won Monticello High School’s Sportsmanship Award. Elizabeth is also a talented clarinetist and serves as an usher and lector at her church. Whether she is guiding a hesitant six-year-old through his first backstroke lap or connecting complex historical movements in her AP coursework, Elizabeth is a leader in the quiet and important work of lifting others up.
Ava Ellis of Western Albemarle High School
Ava isn’t just a 4.7 GPA student at Western Albemarle High School —she’s a future military leader who spends her time designing Mars mission architectures for NASA and mentoring her fellow students. As a Cadet Commander, she recently achieved a rare double honor at the National Cadet Officer School, being voted the top leader by both her mentors and her peers. From Kung Fu ceremonies to solo canoeing, Ava defines what it means to be a dynamic and enterprising leader. We can't wait to see the impact she makes in the U.S. military!
Aarushi Shah of Albemarle High School
Whether she’s interning at the United Nations or leading her high school robotics team, Aarushi is a force for positive change. A true advocate for others, she has dedicated over 150 hours to community service, from organizing mental health workshops to providing technology education in Nepali schools. Aarushi believes leadership begins with empathy, a value she puts into practice daily whether she's shipping gifts for the Toy Lift or advocating for climate justice. We are proud to celebrate this rock star as she pursues her dreams of becoming a diplomat and a champion for her community!
Carli Esterhuyse of Renaissance School
Carli is a leader with empathy and unflappable calm. She’s a master builder who created museum-quality architectural models of world-renowned cathedrals, demonstrating a level of detail usually reserved for professionals. An accomplished painter who sells her work and takes commissions, Carli’s art has been featured at the McGuffey Art Center and 2nd Street Gallery. From the UVA Youth Council to her volunteer work at the Virginia Discovery Museum, Carli is dedicated to making Charlottesville a more vibrant place for everyone. Carli’s future is in architecture, where she plans to use her creative problem-solving and people-first philosophy to design spaces that improve lives. We can’t wait to see the incredible skyline she’ll create one day!
Cameron Smith of Regents School
Cameron is the definition of a do-it-all leader. Whether she’s leading the Varsity Volleyball team as a Regional MVP, saving the school prom as Dance Committee Co-Chair, or raising over $500 to provide hygiene kits for local girls, she brings 100% heart to everything she touches. From packing bags for Backpack Buddies to serving up smiles at Duck Donuts and Altar’d State, Cameron’s work ethic is unmatched. She hopes to use her award-winning artistic talents in marketing to destigmatize mental health and spread positive messaging for young women. Her quiet leadership and humble spirit are an inspiration to us all.
Jayla Turner of Charlottesville High School
Jayla Turner is a dedicated musician who has spent her high school career ensuring every student's voice is heard. As a three-term class president and student representative to the Charlottesville School Board, Jayla has tackled the root causes of low test scores among minority students and argues for better early childhood pathways. When she isn't advocating for student success, you can find her twirling the baton as a majorette or performing clarinet solos in the orchestra pit. Jayla plans to merge her passions for service and the arts by pursuing a doctorate in music therapy and traveling the world to help others heal through the universal language of music.
Charlotte Feist of Covenant School
After the tragic loss of her aunt, an ER doctor who died during the pandemic, Charlotte Feist transformed her grief into a national platform for clinician well-being. She has spent years lobbying in the U.S. Capitol for the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, a landmark piece of legislation designed to reduce burnout and provide mental health support for healthcare professionals across the country. At Covenant School she founded the Ambassadors for Mental Health Club. Charlotte has already influenced national policy through her lobbying efforts in D.C. We can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make as a future advocate for justice.
Naomi Joy Ryan of Miller School of Albemarle
Naomi Joy Ryan is breaking barriers as a standout scholar-athlete at the Miller School of Albemarle. She’s a force to be reckoned with on the diamond as a silver medalist for the USA Baseball Women’s National Team and a member of the prestigious All-World Team and the captain of Miller’s varsity baseball team. She organized a massive equipment drive that raised over $2,500 for the Randolph Community Center in Richmond and hosted a "Homegrown Baseball" camp at Miller for over 50 young athletes to inspire girls in the sport. Naomi has served as Co-President of the Black Student Union and a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to pursue a Doctorate in physical therapy and launch a non-profit dedicated to providing equipment and clinics for underserved youth, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to chase their dreams.
Luciana Stiteler-Rosario of Community Lab School
Luciana Stiteler-Rosario has spent over thirteen years dedicated to scouting. Whether she is working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award and Scouting BSA Eagle Award or mentoring young theater performers, Luci is always showing up for her community. At the height of the pandemic, she stepped up as a Senior Patrol Leader to rebuild her scout troop through virtual engagement, ensuring her peers remained connected and motivated when the world shut down. Luci balances rigorous academic pursuits with household responsibilities as she mentors her younger siblings. She serves on the Fluvanna Teen Arts Board providing free art programs to local children and volunteers at a local barn that offers riding lessons to kids who couldn't afford them. With a dream of becoming a children’s therapist or social worker, Luci plans to use her deep sense of empathy and resilience to provide a voice for children facing their own challenges.
Sofia Smith of Tandem Friends School
Whether as a varsity volleyball captain or conducting research as a material science intern at the University of Virginia, Sofia Smith’s leadership is deeply felt in the community. She founded the art for charity club to merge her love for creative expression with community service. She mobilized rapid support for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank during an urgent Snap benefits crisis. As a certified yoga teacher and mentor, she works to create inclusive environments where others feel seen and confident in their own uniqueness. Sofia aims to carry this compassionate drive into the field of biology and nutrition, where she is determined to ensure universal access to healthy, high-quality food.