Thursday Round Up

15 January

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
News from the Homefront: 

AWE Arts & Writing Contest:
We are excited to announce the return of the Arts in Western Education (AWE) Arts & Writing Contest! The deadline for submission is January 1-31, 2026. Winners will be published in the AWE Newspaper and invited to present art and writing at ArtsFest on March 27, 2026! A reception will also be held in February for submissions to the contest. More details are forthcoming. You can find out more information on our website Arts + Writing Contest (2026) — Arts in Western Education - Shining a light on the arts in western Albemarle County, VA
Are You Ready? At WAHS We're ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER!
Always Better Together is coming on 13 March! So get ready for some fun including a T-Shirt Design Contest! The winners will get $30 Amazon Gift Cards and their design on our shirt! Submit your design here. Questions? Ask Mr. Lazarro in the library.
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Winter Spirit Week!
Snowball Dance!
Food Drive
Singing Valentines
JMRL Call for Submissions!
Governor's School:
Here are key dates you will need:​
  • World Languages Academy:
    • Complete your online application by 31 January (NB. It must be started by 16 January)​​​
Tomorrow is a(n) B day 

​Upcoming Events:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • 19 January – MLK Day, No School for Students
  • 21 January – Mini Med School
  • 28 January – WAHS Got Talent
  • 31 January – Snowball Dance
  • 16 February – Teacher Work Day, No School for Students
  • 17 February – Professional Development, No School for Students
  • 5 March – Conferences
  • 13 March – End of 3rd Quarter
  • 13 March – Better Together!
  • 19 March – Professional Development, No School for Students
  • 20 March – Teacher Work Day, No School for Students
  • 24 March – In School SAT Day
  • 27 March – Arts Fest in the West
  • 6-10 April – Spring Break
  • 17 April – Model Congress
  • 23 April – Post High Planning Night
  • 23-25 April – High School Musical
  • ​2 May – Prom
  • 12 May – Last Day of Classes for Seniors
  • 22 May – Graduation
  • 25 May – Memorial Day
  • 29 May – Last Day of School (1/2 Day)​

Use Your Brain for Fun (&$)!

Humanities & Social Sciences

Become a Ballotpedia Fellow! This is an 8 week nonpartisan project where students engage in research on politics. Apply by 4 February.

Apply for the Civics Unplugged 8 Week Virtual Fellowship. Deadline is 31 January

The Outdoor Writers Association of America invites you to submit your work focusing on experiences out of doors.  Submit by 31 January

River of Words invites students ages 5-19 to submit writing and art. The deadline for submissions is 31 January.

The Ellie Wiesel Prize in Ethics is taking submissions until 20 January. This year's theme is Silence, Conscience, and Responsibility. Submit your response now.

Hey there history fans, The Sons of the American Revolution have a $6,000 scholarship for those who can discuss the Revolution, Declaration of Independence or the framing of the Constitution.

STEM

Genes in Space invites students in grades 7-12 to explore a topic of biology. Individual or partners.

Women in STEM is a chance to earn up to $6,000 for college. Apply by 31 January

The Virginia Junior Academy of Science is taking submissions for its conference in May. Get your paper in now!

Get in on Microsoft's Imagine Cup Competition. If you are a tech head, this is for you! And it;'s worth between $50,000 and $100,000!
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Forensic Scientists of the future, how does $6,000 sound to you? Apply for the Fallen "Freaks" Scholarship. Due in January

Get in on the Cool Science Extreme Weather Art Contest. It's open to people in grades K-12. 

Join the Presidential AI Challenge! Do you have a plan for how AI could solve a community issue? Then you have a project! 
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Photo by Ari He on Unsplash

Visual and Performing Arts

The Outdoor Writers Association of America invites you to submit your work focusing on experiences out of doors. This is both a writing and a photo contest. Submit by 31 January

River of Words invites students ages 5-19 to submit writing and art. The deadline for submissions is 31 January.

Student Cam is a documentary competition. This year's theme is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Submit by 20 January.

Get in on the Cool Science Extreme Weather Art Contest. It's open to people in grades K-12.  

Artists, get ready for the New York Times' Local Lens Photo Essay Contest. Can you capture the magic that is WAHS in 6-8 photos? Due 15 January

Never Such Innocence invites youth to submit poetry, art, or songwriting to their winter contest. It's open to students ages 9-18. 

Scholarships for Seniors

The Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (TJSWCD) is pleased to announce the availability of our 2026 Scholarship Awards!  

The TJSWCD will award up to $4,500 in scholarships to students residing within the District (Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson, and the City of Charlottesville). Scholarship funds may be awarded entirely to one applicant or may be divided based upon the merit of the applicants. 

The TJSWCD scholarship is available to full-time students who demonstrate an active interest in conservation and are enrolled in, or have applied to, a college freshman level curriculum. The scholarship must be applied toward courses for which the student will receive college credit, and the payment will be made directly to the student’s academic institution. In addition, one applicant will be nominated by TJSWCD to the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) to be considered for one of four $2,000.00 scholarships awarded to statewide winners.

To apply: Students must submit a completed application and have 3 letters of recommendation sent to [email protected]. We also require that official transcripts be emailed directly to us by the school counselor or administrator.

*Complete applications, including transcripts, are due to us no later than Friday, February 06, 2026 by 4:00PM. Late or incomplete applications cannot be accepted.*
Submitted applications will be reviewed and screened by the Education and Water Resources Committee. All applications and information contained therein shall remain confidential. Nominations from the Committee will be submitted to the VASWCD Educational Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors for final approval.

The mission of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s Educational Foundation, Inc. is to provide educational opportunities to citizens of Virginia to become good stewards of the environment and natural resources for the benefit of all. Virginia’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Virginia Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, memorial gifts and other contributions have provided initial funding for the Foundation

All programs and services of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s Educational Foundation, Inc. are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability. All submitted paperwork is confidential and becomes the property of the VASWCDEF.
Self Care:
​Scholarships
Do you need money to make post high a reality? Start with these two databases!
Hey Robotics fans! Apply for the Burt Kamen FIRST Robotics Scholarship. It's worth up to $10,000 and is due by 1 February

McDonald's Hacer Scholarship provides up to $100,000 for students who serve their communities and are making a difference there. Apply by 17 February.

The Roothbert Scholarship is open to students in Virginia whose daily decisions are guided by spiritual motives. It's worth $7,000 and is renewable. Apply by 1 February.

Horatio Alger is a need based scholarship worth up to $25,000. It opened on 1 December. Juniors and seniors may apply.

The Ellie Wiesel Prize in Ethics is taking submissions until 20 January. This year's theme is Silence, Conscience, and Responsibility. Submit your response now. It's worth $10,000.

APIA offers scholarships up to $20,000 for students of Asian and Pacific Island descent. Apply by 15 January

Profiles in Courage invites high school students to write about the courage of an American. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible. It's worth $10,000. Apply by 12 January

Live Más invites you to be bold! They offer up to $25,000 to students who live out their bold, passionate dreams. This is a renewable scholarship!

Get in on Microsoft's Imagine Cup Competition. If you are a tech head, this is for you! And it;'s worth between $50,000 and $100,000!

Amazon's Future Engineer Scholarship is worth up to $40,000 for students who have demonstrated need. 

Do Good Things for People

Looking for volunteer hours? Arts in Western Education (AWE) is hosting an Arts Night Out for local elementary students at Crozet Elementary School on Friday, January 23. We are looking for several volunteers who can help support small groups of students as they participate in art related activities. The time of the event is 4:45- 8:45pm, and you can sign up here.

Saturday is New Year New Visions in support of the CASPCA

Summer's Coming!

Looking for great things to do this summer? Look no further! And also don't skip this!

Martha Jefferson Junior Volunteers
The Summer 2026 Junior Volunteer Program Application is opening (and closing!) earlier this year. As of today, the application is open. It will be closing on March 1, 2026. Please tell your students to get their application submitted early!  
 
Our perfect student: 
-Age 15-18  
-Expresses an interest in working in a hospital or healthcare field  
-Wants to help  
-Available for June 8 orientation  
 
All information about the programing, including the application, can be found here: Junior Volunteer Program at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital. If there are additional questions after exploring the website, please reach out to us at [email protected] so the email does not get lost in the shuffle. 

Girls Who Code
The Girls Who Code Summer Pathways program's applications are now open! 
Pathways is a free, virtual program that empowers high school girls and non-binary students of all experience levels — including rising 9th graders, graduating seniors, and returning participants — to explore AI, Game Design, Cybersecurity, and more, while learning how to build tech for good. The program is entirely flexible in how participants choose to learn and requires no prior coding experience. Students complete courses at their own pace over seven weeks, from June 29 to August 14.
Beyond coding, students gain real-world insights through Partner Events with leading tech organizations, connect with peers through Girls Who Code’s private Discord community, and join optional Student Hours for live support. Participants earn a certificate for each completed course and join Girls Who Code’s lifelong alumni network, gaining access to mentorship, internships, and career opportunities in tech.
Students can apply by February 25th for priority consideration. The application closes on April 10th.

STEM Enhancement in Earth Science
The SEES Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive STEM experience for high school students hosted by the University of Texas Center for Space Research. Interns collaborate with NASA, academic, and industry experts using mission data across disciplines such as aerospace, astronomy, planetary science, remote sensing, microgravity research, and space geodetic techniques. Projects are mission-based and aligned with national aerospace priorities, giving students the opportunity to build technical expertise in areas including data analysis, engineering design, and systems modeling. Through this research, interns also strengthen teamwork, communication, and professional skills critical to the nation’s future science and engineering workforce, while contributing to studies of Earth systems and natural hazards.
SEES APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 22, 2026 at 8:00 pm PT
NO LATE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED – NO EXCEPTIONS
The Blue Ridge Center for Music and Creative Arts (BRCMCA) is conducting a series of programs for talented high school music and arts students in 2026. In order to ensure that no students are left out due to family income, all programs are offered on a full scholarship basis that includes instruction, meals, and lodging. All programs take place at our venues in Madison County, which include Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges in Syria, VA and Possums’s Store in Criglersville, VA.
We welcome your input on the programs and any assistance you may be able to provide in identifying qualified students and encouraging them to submit applications. Further information is available on our website (www.blueridgecenterarts.com) and applications can be submitted online on the website.

Planned 2026 programs include the following:
Visual Arts (June 7 – 12, 2026)
 A series of workshops where advanced students work one-on-one with prominent, nationally-recognized artists, including guidance in portfolio development, practice in mindfulness techniques that can help them improve their focus, and public exhibition of their work. Workshop areas include oil, watercolor, and stone sculpture.
https://www.blueridgecenterarts.com/events/visual-arts-2026/

Creative Music Composition (June 8 – 12, 2026)
A unique opportunity for students who are actively composing to work with experienced professional musicians/composers to finalize a piece and introduce it live or digitally at the end of the 5-day program. Workshop areas include improvisation, piano basics for composers, music theory and harmony, and exploration of topics that are fundamental to music composition.
https://www.blueridgecenterarts.com/events/creative-music-composition-2026/

Music and Mindfulness (June 14 – 22, 2026)
An 8-day program that offers advanced level high school orchestral and vocal students a robust and rewarding opportunity to expand their musical skills, connect with nature, learn mindfulness techniques, and receive guidance and support on their paths to college and careers. Students will have the chance to expand their skills with introductory workshops in new genres such as jazz and bluegrass, and join faculty for lively jam sessions and collaborative concerts. 
https://www.blueridgecenterarts.com/events/music-mindfulness-2026/

Bluegrass Master Classes (June 22 – 26)
A five-day program designed to enhance and develop youth in bluegrass through one-on-one and small group instruction by nationally recognized bluegrass artists, jam sessions, and live performances. Target skills include the ability to interact with other pickers to jam and perform standard bluegrass tunes. Working sessions include banjo, bass, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and vocals.
https://www.blueridgecenterarts.com/events/bluegrass-2026/

"The Best School" and "The Best School for You" should be one and the same. You're not buying a pair of shoes. You're going to school for four years. Just because it's a good brand name, doesn't mean it fits you or that you're comfortable there. 

College Corner

University of Rochester, Rochester, New York

Welcome Juniors!

One thing I have heard from seniors over and over is that you all don't know when to start worrying about college. I find this impossible to believe because since I've known you in 9th grade (and some in 8th) you've always worried about college. But I will take this feedback at face value and pretend that this is true. I'm here to say, now that we are in second semester, you can start the official madness if you want to.

But I am also here to tell you it's not necessary at all. Let me repeat that. It's NOT NECESSARY AT ALL.

Outside of school, I have my own business where I work with students who are applying to colleges, and I have done this for years. And I promise you that it is unnecessary for this process to be insane and stressful. Unless you want to make it that way.

Part of the culture at WAHS is to make it that way. Competitive high schools are invested in making everything competitive. Part of the way this place works is if you're not feeling stress and anxiety then there must be something wrong with you. If the college process isn't keeping you up at night, if you're not panicking over where you're applying or who else is applying there, what AP classes you took and who took a different one, then clearly you're not trying hard enough. My husband (a man who has a BA from UVA, an MA from UChicago and an MA and PhD from Harvard in case you want to check his credentials) calls this "jumping through hoops" and I invite you to listen to this talk he gave several years ago.. This jumping through hoops is a cycle that exists here at WAHS. As an advisor to undergrads at UVA, he has also seen it there. But as we can both tell you, you can choose to be in it. Or you can opt out of it.

I was in a meeting in the Before Times and at the table was a group of teachers. One of them graduated from UVA Wise, one from University of Wisconsin, one from Longwood and me, from the University of Chicago (spoiler alert, my husband and I met there, doing theater no less!). One of the things that a colleague of mine pointed out is that in the end, we're all in basically the same job. So it didn't matter ultimately, where we went to college; we are all colleagues today. Parents think about that a second. Where did you go? Where did you colleagues go? Did you all end up in the places you wanted to be?

In thinking about starting this process, the main focus needs to be not on your grades, not on the number of APs you've taken, or the level of your classes. It needs to be on you. Who are you? What do you like? What don't you like? What kind of person are you? Are you outgoing? Are you shy around new people? Do you want to be close to home? Do you want to leave home? Are you interested in meeting new people all the time? Do you like having a core group of folks who know you well? What kind of support system do you need to be successful? Is it one where you go to the same people all the time? Are you pretty independent? Can you handle things on your own? Do you need a posse? What about your faith? Is that a large part of who you are? How do you see it in your future? Is it important to you to have access to art? theater? sports? a specific sport? Do you play sports? Do you want to continue to play sports? or are you better off as a fan? How about fraternities and sororities? no Greek life at all? community service? health care? mental health care? animals? people like you? people not like you at all? LGBTQ communities? communities of color? a place with people who are engaged in social justice? people who are socially conservative? people who will challenge your ideas? people who will challenge your comfort zone? people who will support you for who you are? people who will push you to be more? people who will catch you if you fall? Are you a risk taker? Are you risk averse? How comfortable are you talking to professors? Are you comfortable in small classes? Are you independent in large classes? Are you a big fish in a small pond person? Do you like to be a small fish in a big pond? How do you describe yourself? How do others describe you? 

We focus too much on things like what will you major in, when 80% of all college students will change their major, some more than once. My daughter, Teresa chose to apply to schools that were all about her values (and yes they did also have Chinese). But by second semester of first year, she was done with Chinese. What lasted throughout her time at Macalester College were the values of the school, the size, the people she wanted to be with, and the environment she chose as her home. During her time there she played in the jazz ensembles every semester, was a part of the Improv group, and got extremely active in social justice. And yes, she declared an anthropology major after dropping Chinese. And an English major. And a history major. And philosophy. And finally, she graduated with a major in English and Latin American Studies with minors in American Studies and Anthropology. And a concentration in Critical Theory. You know, just for good measure. As you can see she went back and forth a lot. She also entertained majors in political science and international studies. And also ones in public policy and sociology, as well as developing her own. She changed her mind so many times that at one point I told her  “just surprise me in 2021.” And so I take full responsibility and would like to apologize to you all for the role I played in making 2020 and 2021 what it was. I will never ask for another surprise again.

Here's what I do know. The fact that she had such a huge range of interests that she couldn’t choose between them is more the result of us finding the perfect school for her, her personality, and personhood than it is because we worried about her academics or her major choices before worrying about her being in the best school for her. She is half way through law school at this point. But she’s also been a baker, a legal assistant, paralegal, and an administrator for a legal clinic between when she graduated and now (so yes, English and Anthropology majors can get jobs with excellent benefits).

So where do you as a junior start with this? Start with those questions above. Sit down with a parent, or me, or your school counselor. Figure out who you are and what you are like. What you value, believe in, and need to be a fruitful member of your community.

Because once we know that, then we can start to talk about names of schools. Because what's in a name anyway? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

On the Town

Photo by Jared Sluyter on Unsplash
Events:​​​​