Thursday Round Up

12 March

Photo by Natalie Kinnear on Unsplash
News from the Homefront: 
At WAHS We're ALWAYS Better Together!
The Western Albemarle Student Senate is hosting Always Better Together, our 3rd annual culture and community celebration. Please join us TOMORROW, March 13 from 4:30 – 6:30 for a fun-filled afternoon of music, dance, games, community guests, and a delicious cultural dinner. We are also collecting donations of dinner items and desserts.

Seniors Attending PVCC Next Year:
Seniors whose post-high school plans include attending PVCC next year are invited to attend a meeting on April 21, where
you will have the opportunity to sit with an admissions officer and create your actual schedule for next year.  This is an amazing opportunity that you do not want to pass up, as you will have first choice of classes, and class TIMES, so that you can create the most effective schedule that works for you!  Prior to this meeting, you will be required to sit with a PVCC representative to get some information that will aid in the schedule making process in April.  Please be sure to meet with your counselor so that we can schedule you for that initial meeting, which will take place in March.

Executive Council Applications Open Next Week!
In School SAT Day
Western will be giving the SAT to juniors on 24 March. There is no need to sign up or to pay for this. We will register students and there is no cost to take it. Looking to practice before the big day? Link your PSAT to Khan Academy and review material you missed. There's no cost for that either!
Free Medical Clinic:
​These materials and the activity described herein are not sponsored or endorsed by the Albemarle County School Board.
Post High Workshops for Students
Beginning next week on 10 & 11 March, I will be offering a series of talks on options for students at WAHS for when they graduate. I will offer these on an A day and a B Day each week. There will be a limit of 30 kids each session. These are designed for juniors who want to understand the following things:
  • How does college differ from high school?
  • How do I pay for college and other programs after high school?
  • What kinds of things can I study in which colleges?
Students should sign up for my Warrior Period labeled Post High Workshop. They only need to come to one per week (some students split time and I want everyone to have a chance at it). We will run four consecutive weeks (with a change for the in school SAT from Tuesday to Thursday) and will be done by spring break.

High School Programming Contest at UVA
HSPC is an annual competitive programming experience for high schoolers, where students work in teams of four to solve fun and challenging computer science problems with the opportunity to win prizes. Students can choose to compete in one of two divisions, Division 1 (for more experienced students) and Division 2 (for students new to competitive programming). This year's contest will be held at UVA on Saturday, April 11th. Registration is currently open on Eventbrite– each team’s registration fee is $40, but if cost would be a barrier for your students or program, please let us know! We’re happy to work with you to make participation possible. More information can be found in this HSPC 2026 Info Packet. 
Charlottesville Chess Classic Is This Weekend!
  • Players of all levels in good academic standing are warmly invited to the Fourth Annual Charlottesville Chess Classic Tournament for grades 7-12! The tournament is FREE, but registration at this link is required. 
  • Where: Renaissance School, 418 E Jefferson St, Charlottesville 22902
  • When: Saturday March 14, 2026, Doors at 9:30am, Competition at 10:00am
  • What: Swiss format non-elimination 5-round chess tournament
  • Who: Players of all levels in 7-12th grade in the greater Charlottesville area in good academic standing. New this year: 7th & 8th graders welcome! 
  • Cost: FREE! 
Please bring your own lunch and water bottle. Bring your best moves and compete to be crowned the 2026 Charlottesville Scholastic Chess Champion! 
Job Fair
Summer Job and Opportunities Fair is this coming Monday March 16 from 12:00-1:00. WAHS will welcome representatives from about 20 sites sharing employment, volunteering, or program experience options for this summer 2026. Please let Mrs. Rittenhouse know if you have questions. We will have representatives from:

  • Boars Head
  • Farmington
  • Mission BBQ
  • ACAC
  • Albemarle Fire and Rescue
  • UVA Apprenticeship Program
  • Navy
  • VA Apartment Management
  • Design Electric
  • Management Services
  • Catering Outfit
  • Camp Holiday Trails
  • Bright Beginnings
  • Little Explorers
  • Music Resource Center
  • CATEC
  • Albemarle Parks and Recreation
  • Pool Management
  • UVA School of Architecture
  • Live Arts 
  • UVA Earn While You Learn
And More!
Tomorrow is a(n) B day 

​Upcoming Events:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • 13 March – End of 3rd Quarter
  • 13 March – Better Together!
  • 19 March – Snow Make Up Day
  • 20 March – Teacher Work Day, No School for Students
  • 24 March – In School SAT Day
  • 27 March – Arts Fest in the West
  • 30 March – WAHS with a Cause
  • 6-10 April – Spring Break
  • 20 April – Model Congress
  • 23 April – Post High Planning Night
  • 23-25 April – High School Musical
  • 1 May – PVCC Final
  • ​2 May – Prom
  • 4 May – AP Testing Begins
  • 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

The Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest is open and taking submissions. Submit your poem for a chance at a $2,000 Scholarship. Due 1 April

The Listen to a Story Contest invites you to connect with a senior citizen and have a meaningful dialog. The contest is open to people 8-18. Cash prize! Due 17 April

April is Poetry Month so get ready for the Dear Poet Project! Write a letter to a poet in response to their work. The project is open to students grades 5-12. 

Americans Against Gun Violence has an essay contest. Respond to a prompt and submit your essay for scholarship money. Essays are due 18 April. Open to 9-12.

Submit your haiku to the Haiku and Senryu Poetry Contest. Submissions are due on 20 March.
Picture
Photo by Ari He on Unsplash

Visual and Performing Arts

The Thespian Society has a series of scholarships open right now.

The Young American Patriotic Art Contest is open to people in grades 9-12. Submit your work by 31 March

Does a new laptop sound good? Submit your work to the 2026 NAGYN Art Contest. Open to students in grades 9-12. Submit by 31 March

Submit your work to the Fine Art Contest! Winners get $1,000. Submit by 23 March

Project Yellow Light invites you to create a video or radio PSA about distracted driving. It's worth up to $8,000. Due 1 April

Pony Parts invites you to create a video about your experience with the Mustang. Submit by 15 April

STEM

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a contest open to students in 9-12 who have engaged in water related science projects. It's worth up to $10,000. Submit your work by 15 April

ANS has a scholarship for incoming freshman planning to pursue a degree in STEM. Apply by 1 April

The Society of Women Engineers offers scholarships to women planning to go into engineering. Apply by 31 March​

Designers and engineers, can you use aluminum to solve problems? the 2026 Aluminum Extrusion Student Design Contest offers up to $5,000 for a winning design. Apply by 30 March

Microsoft offers two scholarships to encourage under represented people to go into a STEM Field. Black at Microsoft offers $5,000. Apply by 16 March. Women at Microsoft​ has $5,000 for you. Apply by 27 March
Picture
Photo by PITTI EDU on Unsplash

Skilled Trades

ANS has a scholarship for students interested in pursuing nuclear engineering beyond high school. Apply by 1 April.

The National Farmers Union offers $1,000 scholarships for education beyond high school for those who plan to work in agriculture. Apply by 1 April 

Pony Parts invites you to create a video about your experience with the Mustang. Submit by 15 April

Home Depot offers $2,500 to students planning a career in the trades. Apply by 31 March

SEMA offers scholarship money to pay off student loans to those who are pursuing a career in ​Skilled Trades. Apply by 3 April

Dairy Shrine offers scholarships to youth of all ages who plan to pursue a career in dairy farming. There are multiple options to choose from. Submit by 15 April

Scholarships for Seniors

Crozet Baptist Church awards 2 scholarships yearly named for Hallie and Paul Cale.  Awards in the past have been a one time payment of $2,500 for the 1st semester and $2,500 for the 2nd semester paid directly to the university.  Selection is based on Character, Academic Record, Financial Need, and Leadership.  These awards are for WAHS only and the application is easy!! 
 Please fill out this google form application to apply by Wednesday, April 15th.

The Albemarle County Democrats are sponsoring their James and Nellie Butler Scholarship once again to graduating Seniors. Each area high school will have one recipient for $2,000.  
Scholarship application deadline is May 1, 2026 by MIDNIGHT.
Our criteria for the awards is threefold:
1) a demonstrated record of community service and/or ambitious plans for prospective community service;
2) academic record; and
3) financial need.
The most weight is accorded criterion #1 (community service record and interest), with criteria numbers 2 & 3 are weighted only a little less proportionately. Butler Scholarship Information and Application

The Virginia EL Supervisors’ Association (VESA) is pleased to offer one-time scholarships to English Learners who plan to continue their education at a college, university, community college, or workforce training program. Only complete applications will be reviewed. The deadline for submitting applications is April 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST.
Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
· Enrollment in an ESL program for at least one year in grades 6–12 in a Virginia public school
· Enrollment in 12th grade at the time of application
· Demonstrated financial need
· Strong, student-written essays
Application Deadline: April 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST 
More Information: http://www.vavesa.org/scholarships
For questions, please contact Samuel Klein at [email protected] or 703-228-6095.

100 Black Men of Central Virginia
Even though this scholarship may seem like it is only for Black Men, it is open to all people of color.  Generally speaking, if you have a 3.0 or higher and you fill out the application in its entirety, you will most likely win $1,000.  Can't beat that!!!   Due March 30.

The 2026 VSCA Scholarship is now open for essay submissions! This award is designed to support graduating seniors who write an essay about a school counselor in Virginia who has influenced their life at any time during their academic career. Application attached.​ Application is due by 28 March

The Widow Son's Lodge #60 Scholarship is now available and attached to this email (the 2025 application is identical to the 2026 app). If you would like a paper copy, please see Ms. Poole in Counseling.

Seniors, with financial need can submit their completed applications to the Guidance Office before March 31st, along with the following required materials:
  1. An up-to-date transcript
  2. A copy of their college acceptance letter
  3. A brief description of why they chose their college and whether they plan to return to Charlottesville after their studies
Please turn in your application and all docs to Shelby Poole in the Counseling Office by March 30th.

Alternatively, students may choose to:
  • Email their application and materials to [email protected], or
  • Mail them to the following address, ensuring they are received by March 31st.:
Mr. Jason Pattison
1741 County Line Lane
Ruckersville, VA 22968

Scholarships for Juniors!

ATTENTION JUNIORS: Applications for the impact-driven, four-year, full-tuition Cameron Impact Scholarship are officially open for the CLASS OF 2027.

The Cameron Impact Scholarship is impact-driven and open to all applicants who meet the GPA and citizenship requirements, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation or any other background factors.  Integrity, intelligence, motivation, work ethic, and willingness to serve others are the strongest indicators of a worthy educational investment.
  •  15 scholarships awarded per annum
  • Four-year, full tuition scholarship (actual dollar amount varies based upon school selection)
  • Freedom in choice of school and area of study
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  • Accepting applications for the Class of 2027 - JUNIORS;
  • have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.7 or higher;
  • be a citizen of the United States.
*** WE ARE LIMITED TO ACCEPTING A TOTAL OF 3,000 COMPLETE APPLICATIONS.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2026 at 12PM PT (NOON) - OR - when we reach 3,000 eligible and complete applications - whichever occurs first.
 We are only able to accept and review a total of 3,000 complete and eligible applications - please note that we typically reach capacity prior to the deadline and we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE applicants to submit well before the deadline.
 https://www.bryancameroneducationfoundation.org/scholarship
Self Care:
​Scholarships
Do you need money to make post high a reality? Start with these two databases!
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a contest open to students in 9-12 who have engaged in water related science projects. It's worth up to $10,000. Submit your work by 15 April


Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award has a spring deadline as well. Apply by 15 April for a chance at a $10,000.

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund offers up to $10,000 to students with demonstrated need. Apply by 1 April

Create Real Impact invites you to submit a campaign to reduce reckless driving. Register to compete by 30 March. Win up to $10,000

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes gives young people between the ages of 8 and 18 up to $10,000 for community service projects they have spearheaded. Apply by 15 March

Are you the child or grandchild of someone who served in the Navy? Get up to $10,000 in scholarships. Apply by 15 March

The UTC Scholarships offer up to $6,000 yearly for students planning on attending a 4 year school. Apply by 15 March

The Kim and Harald Louie Foundation offers up to $100,000 in scholarships for talented seniors in high school. GPA and SAT requirements. Apply by 15 March

AICPA offers up to $10,000 for people who are interested in becoming CPAs. Apply by 15 March.

Planning a future in building and construction? NPCA offers up to $20,000 in scholarship money and internship opportunities. Apply  by 13 March.

Do Good Things for People

Support the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society with Trivia Night at Michie Tavern tonight

Summer's Coming!

Looking for great things to do this summer? Look no further!
And also ​don't skip this!​
The Virginia Discovery Museum has a Museum Teen Internship Program. 
 
Are you interested in education, STEAM, the arts, or just getting involved with their local community? Each year the Museum hosts 40+ select interns who help in our galleries, with Summer Camps, and more, all while gaining valuable job training and forging working relationships with staff and guests. Many interns continue to volunteer throughout the year, earning hundreds of service hours, and establishing their place in our community.
 
In addition to training and job experience, completion of the program will also come with a letter of recommendation for job or college applications. To apply, all applicants must
  •  Be High School Students (this includes rising 9th graders and graduating 12th graders)
  • Attend an interview and orientation
  • Commit to At Least 25 Service Hours​
  • Submit Applications no later than April 30th.

Applications are open now and will be evaluated on a first come, first serve basis. We also have the link posted on School Links for those that use that.
Hit the James River this summer for some excellent time learning about our waterways! The program for high school students is an excellent way to explore an interest in conservation while gaining leadership skills. 

NASA's GeneLab for High School Students Summer Program is taking applications until 15 March. GL4HS will continue offering its asynchronous summer program in 2026. The program will consist of 12 weeks of on-demand training and will run June 1st through August 28th, 2026. Applications for the 2026 program will open on February 15 and remain open for one month, closing on March 15, or until 1,000 applications are received, whichever occurs first. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates. High school transcripts are required for all applications. Only digital (scanned) copies in PDF format will be accepted and must be submitted through the online application form. Applications submitted after the application period closes will not be reviewed.

The Sorenson High School Leaders Program is taking applications. This is a great program for folks interested in politics and in making changes in their communities. We had a student attend one year and the bill he developed with other students was actually passed by the General Assembly. Apply now!

William & Mary offers a series of law related programs through the Center for Legal & Court Technology (CLCT) at William & Mary Law School in Virginia! Taught by law professors, these include:
  • Introduction to Law & the United States Legal System
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and the Law
  • Introduction to Search and Seizure

SOAR is the Summer Opportunities in Academic Research offered by UVA. This program places you with researchers to do work in areas like Health Care, Data Science, AI, and more. It is a competitive program and students must apply. Students who participate will receive a free laptop. See below for more!

"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

Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama

Schools with Late Deadline

If the admissions process isn’t what you’d hoped it would be, have faith because there are still some very good schools out there with late deadlines.

Here are some schools, with their deadlines that you should consider (but probably haven’t!):

Rolling Admissions: 30 March: 1 April:

And even later!
And think about PVCC’s Guaranteed Admissions Agreement. They will take your AP and Dual Enrollment credits and it may be only a year (in some cases even less) before you can transfer to places like William & Mary, UVA, and Tech. 

​

On the Town

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