Scholarship Fund Gala Helps Every Student Succeed

Saturday night saw smiles and a few tears as T.C. Williams High School scholarship recipients celebrated their achievements with donors at the Annual Scholarship Fund Spring Benefit Gala at the Hilton Hotel.

Scholarship recipients

This year, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria received the highest number of requests ever from students at T.C. Williams High School, where more than 60 percent of students receive free or reduced price meals and where many will be the first in their family to attend college.

154 seniors will receive scholarships through the non-profit, which is based at T.C. Williams High School. Some will receive scholarships for all four years of college.

Three former scholarship awardees form 1987 were also honored for their successes. Dr. Nadia Yungk is now a veterinarian, Clarence Martin who as a school counselor at T.C. Williams inspires students in similar situations to his own and Alexandra Crawford-Batt who credits the diversity at T.C. Williams with setting her on a career path in International Relations.

Former T.C. Principal John Porter with scholarship recipient Sugevis Gomez

The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, an ACPS partner, helps support students through college and also helps make them aware of how to access all available financial aid options. They are aiming to raise more than $1 million in scholarships for 2017.

The students will receive their scholarship awards during a ceremony at T.C. Williams on May 31. Since 1986, SFA has awarded $13 million in scholarships, making college dreams come true for 4,500 students.

View all the photos from the event on Facebook

Meanwhile, AVID student Mickayla Brandao has been named a National DELL Scholar. She has committed to NYU.

Dell Scholar Mickayla Brandao (fourth from left) with AVID staff and students

2017 Scholarship Recipients:

Peter Laboy Jr. – Recipient of the Loti Dunn Scholarship. Peter received a $24,000 scholarship award over 4 years of college. He is planning to study Political Science at Duke University.

Sugeivis Gomez – Recipient of the Jack Esformes Scholarship. Sugeivis plans to study International Relations at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Joshua Habib – Recipient of the INOVA Scholarship. Joshua is planning to study biomedical engineering or biology at either William & Mary or UVA.